How to Build Your Own Superhero

It doesn’t take superpowers or super intelligence to be a superhero—in most cases, a healthy combo of bravery, vengeance and a lot of money will do the trick. Sure, being born on an alien planet and instilled with a pure sense of morality helps, especially if you want to fly like a bird (or a plane…). But mere mortals have morphed their own person into heroes larger than life, proving that anyone with an iron will can too.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bravery
• Fighting skills
• Sewing machine
• Secret hideout
• Gadgets

1. Get motivated. Motivation is everything—it’s the basis of your idealism and integrity as a savior of humanity. Are you avenging the death of a loved one? Have you witnessed an act of injustice? Find a reason to get mad, and use it to activate the force of good that lives within you.

2. Walk into danger. Spiderman would forever be Peter Parker if a radioactive arachnid hadn't bitten his flesh; Ironman wouldn't have built his impenetrable super-suit if he hadn't been taken captive by terrorists. Try walking down a dark alley in a foreign country or through a chemistry lab after hours, and see if some unforeseen events don't fatefully collide.

3. Design a super-suit. Your outerwear is not only symbolic of your capabilities, it must enhance them. Batman personified his fear of bats to frighten his enemies, designing a shadowy costume with an awesome wingspan that allowed him to soar over Gotham City. Tony Stark gave his intelligence a suit of armor to match. Remember, the suit will inevitably be exposed to some wear and tear, so durability comes before style. Gadgets are highly recommended.

4. Protect your identity. This involves choosing an appropriate name for your persona and being as discreet as a CIA agent when in street clothes. If you choose to disclose your identity, let it be only to a faithful confidant (such as a butler or lover) and never to the public. A secret hideout is also useful.

Tips & Warnings

• Your personal attachments/egotism/Kryptonite will invariably become your own enemy. Understand your weaknesses and keep them in check.