I just watched the movie “Chronicle.” I didn’t see it in the theaters. I knew a little about it and it looked good, but I just didn’t get the chance to see it. For those that don’t know, it’s a movie about three high school students who stumble upon an alien-looking artifact and get telekinetic powers.
The film strengthened two theories I’ve held about superpowers, and what would happen if someone in the real world got superpowers.
First, will a human who gains superpowers be a hero or a villain? Rob and I have had this discussion MANY times. We decided long ago that the reason Rob and I don’t get super powers is because we would be villains. Rob is one of the nicest people I know, but he would most likely turn to power-abuse. I believe, no matter how good a person is, taking a step toward superhuman is too tempting to abuse your powers.
For example, Rob has road rage like a mad lust-driven water buffalo. If he had superpowers, and you cut him off on the road, he would blow up your car. I’m not saying he would always do it intentionally, but his immediate response would be to ensure that you cannot cut anyone off ever again. This would happen with one the nicest people I know.
It’s not about who you are right now, but how the powers redefine who you are. I believe that the powers would have to go to a heroically-minded individual for them to choose to become a hero, or at the very least not abuse their powers.
Oh, and if I got superpowers …
Supreme Dictator-Overlord For Life Inky.
For Friday: Why it is important that superheroes have organizations to make the characters believable?
