How To Create A Shonen/Shounen Power System For Comics, Manga, And Webtoons

Summary

In this 'Monitor Comics' video, the host explores the creation of power systems in comics and manga, offering five key elements for a compelling system. They analyze popular series like 'One Piece' and 'My Hero Academia' for inspiration, emphasizing diversity, justification, limitations, balance, and visual appeal in power systems. The video also discusses avoiding plot conveniences and encourages creativity and originality in developing unique abilities for characters.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Creating a power system in comics and manga involves analyzing famous and unique systems from popular anime and manga to understand what makes them effective.
• 🌟 Skillshare is highlighted as a platform offering a variety of classes for creators, including productivity for creatives, which the speaker found beneficial for time management and enhancing creativity.
• 💪 The importance of diversity in power systems is emphasized; familiar concepts can feel fresh with a unique spin or creative execution.
• 🔍 Justification for powers is crucial; understanding the origin of a character's abilities, whether genetic, acquired, or granted, helps in creating a logical and believable power system.
• 🚫 Limitations are essential for power systems to create balance and prevent characters from being overpowered, which can lead to poor storytelling due to plot convenience.
• 🌱 Personal growth and training are key components of power systems, as seen in series like Dragon Ball and Bleach, where characters enhance their abilities through practice and effort.
• ⚖️ Balancing multiple power systems within a single story can be achieved by ensuring that each power has its strengths and weaknesses, maintaining a sense of fairness and challenge.
• 👀 Visually stimulating powers can enhance storytelling, turning ordinary battles into dynamic and expressive scenes, as demonstrated by series like Demon Slayer and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.
• 📈 The concepts of power scaling and power creeping are introduced as considerations to maintain a consistent and believable power hierarchy among characters.
• 🎭 Hunter x Hunter's Nen system is commended for its depth and detail, offering a well-thought-out example of a balanced and diverse power system.
• 🎉 The final takeaway encourages creators to consider diversity, justification, limitations, balance, and visual appeal when developing their own power systems for a more engaging and grounded narrative.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is discussing how to create power systems in comics, manga, and webtoon projects.

What is the purpose of analyzing famous power systems from popular anime and manga?

The purpose is to provide insights and value to the viewers, helping them understand what makes a good power system and how to apply these principles in their own projects.

What does the video offer as the five key elements needed for a good power system?

The five key elements are diversity in powers, justification for powers, limitations placed on powers, balancing multiple power systems, and making powers visually stimulating.

What is the role of Skillshare in the video?

Skillshare is the sponsor of the video, offering an online learning community for creators with thousands of classes, and the video includes a special offer for a one-month free trial.

How does the video suggest making familiar power concepts feel fresh to the reader?

By adding a unique spin or fusing it with a pre-existing idea, making the presentation of an already familiar idea feel fresh and original.

What is the significance of justifying the source of a character's power in a story?

Justification provides a logical explanation for the powers, helping readers understand and accept the mechanics of the power system within the story.

Why are limitations important in a power system?

Limitations create balance, prevent characters from being overpowered, and allow for more strategic and interesting storytelling.

What is the issue with a power system that lacks limitations?

A power system without limitations can lead to poorly written stories, where characters may not face believable challenges or grow through overcoming hardships.

How does the video suggest balancing multiple power systems within a single story?

By ensuring that each power system has its own unique mechanics and limitations, and that they complement each other without overshadowing one another.

What is the importance of making powers visually stimulating in a comic or manga?

Visually stimulating powers can enhance the reader's experience, turning standard battles into expressive works of art and making the story more engaging.

How does the video recommend avoiding plot convenience in power systems?

By establishing clear rules for the power system and adhering to them consistently, avoiding situations where characters suddenly gain abilities or powers to resolve conflicts conveniently.

What is the video's stance on the importance of creativity and originality in power systems?

The video emphasizes that while complete originality is challenging, creativity in the execution and presentation of power systems can make them feel fresh and engaging to readers.