Four years ago, I made a video about the one thing every good writer needs to create their own superhero universe. I was watching many of my favorite comic book characters become shells of their former selves. Characters that had once been larger-than-life heroes were being stripped of the things that made them great. The... Continue Reading →
We have thousands of superheroes in comics, movies, television, and books. Decades of stories. People think they know what a superhero is. I don't think they do. I think a lot of people get it wrong. If you have powers, a costume, and a cool name, you must be a superhero, right? Not necessarily. Those... Continue Reading →
Spider-Man, Sacrifice, and the Meaning of Responsibility There is a common trope in superhero fiction, and in heroic fiction in general, where the main character believes they have to face the world on their own. They become the lone wolf. The solitary hero who keeps everyone at arm's length, both physically and emotionally. They carry... Continue Reading →
I’ve been working on my writing and other projects for almost ten years. The last five, I’ve been pushing hard just to get my books, and myself, noticed. Being an indie author is exhausting. I push and push and get nowhere. I started a YouTube channel to help get eyes on my work, but nothing.... Continue Reading →
There’s been a lot of talk about gatekeeping lately. Certain groups have stepped up to set the "terms and conditions" of their fandoms, and the world wants to know: Is this right? Should they be allowed to say who’s a real fan and who isn’t? The short answer: Yes. Fandoms don't just happen by accident.... Continue Reading →
The Amazon Top 10 "Superhero" list is a mess. It’s time to clean it out. I took a look at the rankings today, March 14, and if you’re looking for a true superhero story—the kind built on inescapable obligation and the clear-cut battle between Good and Evil—you won’t find it there. What you’ll find is... Continue Reading →
The Doctrine of Superhero Fiction Most people think superhero stories are about costumes, flying, or cool powers. They aren't. Those things are just the "decorations." True superhero fiction is actually about obligation. It is the story of people who have a job they can never quit, and a burden they can never put down. If... Continue Reading →
I know people are extremely passionate about what is happening in the country today. Hard lines have been drawn, and you won’t find many people in the middle anymore. We are on one side or the other. It seems that the comic book characters we grew up with and love have also been dragged into... Continue Reading →
For those of you who visit this site regularly and enjoy reading my random thoughts here on the blog, you may have noticed a new banner at the top: STEVE’S SOAPBOX. You might already be familiar with the idea, and yes, I’m doing it on purpose. It’s my way of honoring the man who got... Continue Reading →
I’m not going to lie, this past year has been the year from hell. If something could go wrong, it did, often in spectacular ways I never could have imagined. But if you want to keep your sanity, you eventually have to shake it off, no matter how hard that is, and move forward. Life... Continue Reading →
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