Altpower
| Tropes and genres | |
|---|---|
| Synonym(s) | alternate power, alt!power |
| See also | Worm |
| Related articles on Fanlore. | |
altpower is a fandom trope that refers to giving a canon character a different set of superpowers than they have in canon. The term probably[citation needed] originated in the Worm/Parahumans fandom, where the trope is so popular that it is considered its own genre of fic. The trope is also seen in many other fandoms that have superpowers or magic, (e.g. MCU, BNHA or Naruto) but the term "altpower" is not generally used.
In the Worm fandom, 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 as it migrated 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
Worm/Parahumans
- 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
- Adaptation by 6thfloormadness -- in which Taylor has Crawler's power
- Punctuated Equilibrium by BreezyWheeze -- another Crawler!Taylor fic
- Intuition by ShayneT -- Taylor triggers with "a minor Thinker power"
- Tank by maroon-sweater -- "Taylor triggers in the locker with the ability to turn into an arbitrary number of Soviet tanks." -- very much written as a commentary on altpower fics and other trends within the fandom
- Best Alt-Powers, Archived version, discussion and recommendation thread on Reddit, 2020
Other fandoms
- Walking Corpse by DisgustingCrabThing -- BNHA -- described by the author as a fic with an "altpower"
- With Great Power One Must Go Further Beyond (Marvel/MHA alt power) aka Power Plus Ultra by scriviner -- BNHA-MCU crossover tagged "Alt-power Peter Parker"
- Neither a Bird nor a Plane, it's Deku! by FoxOnPie -- BNHA-DCU-The Sandman crossover tagged "Alt-Power"
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
- Alternate Universe - Different Powers tag on AO3 that might convey a similar concept for other fandoms (the general freeform tag "Alt Power" has been synned with this one)