Altpower
| Trope · Genre | |
|---|---|
| Synonyms: | alternate power, alt!power |
| Related: | |
| See Also: | Worm |
| Tropes · Slash Tropes · Tropes by Fandom | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Contents | |
altpower fics are a common type of Worm fanfiction. Fics with a similar premise are also seen in the BNHA fandom.
This trope refers to giving a canon character a different set of superpowers than they have in canon. The primary focus on most altpower fics is the ramifications on canon of the fic's protagonist having a different power, and exploring what the character would be like with that power. This is partly due to the close relationship between the nature of powers and the personality of the user in canon.
Many of these fics were gen, however over time het, slash and femme slash became more common over the years and its migration to other fandoms.
In the worm fandom these fics mostly focus on the protagonist, Taylor Hebert. Some fans essentially believe that the versions of Taylor presented in altpower fics are essentially OCs with only the same background in common with the canon character.
Altpower was an optional genre category on the now-defunct fanfiction review site, Ficdb.
Examples
- 28 Taylors Later by Discreet
- Glassmaker (Spacebattles) by JellyfishBlues, a light Taylor/Lisa fic featuring Taylor with a power that lets her shape glass
- Camera Shy, Archived version, by TheGreatGimmick -- in which Taylor has a grab-bag of powers centering around being perceived
- Best Alt-Powers, Archived version, discussion and recommendation thread on Reddit, 2020
Resources
- Alt-power Taylor Hebert tag on Archive of Our Own - note that because atlpower Taylor fics are the most common, AO3 bundles them together with all other altpower fics, so it's not strictly accurate
