Abilities Matrix

[Kyelek]

Has anyone ever made a matrix of superheroes and their abilities? I haven't found one, so I assume not. So….I'm making one, and I was wondering if you all would like to help?

By way of explanation, I'm an architecture student, and we do weird things every now and then. Right now we're mapping out the abilities of superheroes. As many superheroes as we can, and as many abilities as we can. Sadly, though, I know a lot more about buildings than about superheroes. I'm doing my research (reading comic books ), searching Wikipedia and forums, using knowledgeable friends, etc, but I'd like to get more, and do it quicker.

This is where I hope you all can come in. I've made a spreadsheet that anyone can access on Google Docs. Just go in, add your favorite hero or ability, and map it out based on whatever else is there. Maybe correct the matrix if there's something wrong. I've put all the instructions right on the doc.

Here's the link:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pvwX_bGqG3VX49yXPDiihYA&hl=en

Questions? Ask away ^_^

This is a very open source sort of project. If you want the final document (if anything is ever really 'final') you're more than welcome to it! And you're more than welcome to see what we do with it in our studio, too….once we know what we'll be doing, anyways.

Oh, and I know I put this in the Marvel section, but it applies for DC, independent, anime....anything that you consider to be a 'super hero.'

So….what do you say?

 

[Varient]

You may want to adjust your formatting along powers and abilities.


No super Hero is "Invincible" for example and a complete stranger would have no clue what Superman could do based on your chart.

I added Iron Fist and Iron Man w/o changing anything.

V.

 

[yenaled]

I think sometimes binary answers for characters doesn't work like that - especially with superpowers. These things don't have rigid classifications.

Why is Superman "sort of human" but Thor isn't - when Thor actually shares his body with a Human... And since when is Thor an Alien?

Reading the chart just wouldn't tell you anything about the characters on it - Thor going by that chart I wouldn't know that he is a Norse God tied to a Human host who has super strength, speed and durability who wields a magic Hammer that allows him to fly and manipulate energy.

Having the category Magic just doesn't work - going by the chart, Jason Blood, Stephen Strange, Zatanna, Felix Faust, Neron, Mephesto, Abra Kadabra, Scarlet Witch, Nico Minoru, etc would all have the same abilities. When in practice it's so much different.

Don't just want to **** upon your idea but I think you might want to go about it in another way - have a rigid set of of abilities and powers first (have definitive sets of powers and abilities which make sense) and then classify characters along with it at the moment Wolverine doesn't have Claws (I presume that would be utilities) and doesn't fight Melee according to your chart - I presume because someone put him in before they were added to the chart.

 

[Varient]

I think sometimes binary answers for characters doesn't work like that - especially with superpowers. These things don't have rigid classifications.

Why is Superman "sort of human" but Thor isn't - when Thor actually shares his body with a Human... And since when is Thor an Alien?

Reading the chart just wouldn't tell you anything about the characters on it - Thor going by that chart I wouldn't know that he is a Norse God tied to a Human host who has super strength, speed and durability who wields a magic Hammer that allows him to fly and manipulate energy.

Having the category Magic just doesn't work - going by the chart, Jason Blood, Stephen Strange, Zatanna, Felix Faust, Neron, Mephesto, Abra Kadabra, Scarlet Witch, Nico Minoru, etc would all have the same abilities. When in practice it's so much different.

Don't just want to **** upon your idea but I think you might want to go about it in another way - have a rigid set of of abilities and powers first (have definitive sets of powers and abilities which make sense) and then classify characters along with it at the moment Wolverine doesn't have Claws (I presume that would be utilities) and doesn't fight Melee according to your chart - I presume because someone put him in before they were added to the chart.

Yeah,.. he needs to find a better way,... I just checked it,.. Some punk Azz kid went on there and started with the sexual kiddie stuff.

 

[Kyelek]

Thanks for your comments, let me see what I can do to clean it up and realign the matrix...

 

[November Rain]

you power section would need to be very very long and wouldnt do as much justice as an explanation box.

you'd require a small section with each character to clarify why they may be placed in a specific section so to stop you generalise.

 

[Kyelek]

Ok, I've updated the matrix a bit, reorganizing some of the randomness that's crept in. The abilities part is more organized, but seeing as it's based primarily off my own limited knowledge of the characters, I'm sure it's woefully incomplete.

Also, I've cleaned up the junk that was written in that Varient mentioned. Also, thanks for adding the new characters, Varient.

Yenaled, I understand your point that a trinary matrix can't give a perfect understanding of a character, but I think it has some value. If a person was interested in a specific character, they're better off going to a website with bios. But if that person was instead looking to read about a new superhero, and really liked the concept of super strong flying superheros, this list would help him/her find one. Or say you were reading a comic about the Hulk, and were interested in finding out how other writers/artists interpreted the concept of strength. A matrix like this would give a good idea of where to start looking.

I like the idea of setting up 'solid' abilities first, and then matching up characters to them. I've tried to implement that a little, but I don't have a good enough idea of what abilities are out there, so I'm finding myself adding new columns for every character (and then realizing that some of the past characters fit into it to.) Can you recommend some other abilities I should add?

November Rain, you're right. There does need to be a huge list of abilities, and the box can't hold a complete explanation. I suppose it should be linked to a list like this:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/list_of_comic_book_superpowers

I've thought about listing all of those powers in the matrix, but I'm not sure that's a best way to go about it. Thoughts?

Also, thanks for looking at the matrix and for your suggestions. Have any more?

 

[Dread]

I love how random the listing of "superheroes" are and that apparently manga characters like Battle Angel Alita rank up there with Superman and Deadpool.

A matrix project like this is very ambitious but would require a lot of catagories and fine tuning. Plus, it could easily have a million entries. Good luck!

 

[Kyelek]

Hehe, thanks Dread. And what can I say? I toss the site to friends, they add the characters they're interested in, and things go from there. While I'd love to see a finished matrix, I know I won't be doing it. It's time to make a presentation quality graphic out of what I've gained and move on to the sculptural element of this project (funny place to get ideas for abstract sculpture, no?)

That said, you ought to take a minute and add on one or two of your favorite characters. Add in categories if you want, I'll organize 'em later. And if anyone ever wants to take this idea and move forward with it, save a copy to your own Google Docs and go right ahead.

 

[yenaled]

Just checked out your changes that seems much more in-line with what I was thinking, good job.

I'll help you out and add a few more when I'm back from work.

 

[BAH HUMBBUG!]

Wow, talk about getting in a bit over your head, especially since you don't know much.

I commend you but at the same time I pity you. You're going to need a lot of help to accomplish something that anyone can read, understand and will satisfy those that do know what they are talking about. And as others have said I do think you are going to need many more categories to try and encompass everything.

With that said, Norrin Radd/Silver Surfer is not a mutant and as far as his intellect goes, he comes from a planet and race that is far beyond that of Earth so his intellect is definitely superior to ours whether he is portrayed that way or not.