How to make a GOOD Mary Sue · 1:23am Feb 4th, 2017
A Mary Sue is an idealized and seemingly perfect fictional character, a young or low-rank person who saves the day through unrealistic abilities, sometimes with the intent to inspire young or marginalized people and show them that even they can have as great of a potential as leading characters. Often this character is recognized as an author insert or wish-fulfillment.[1] Sometimes the name is reserved only for women, and male Sues are called "Larry Stus," "Gary Stus," or "Marty Stus"; but more often the name is used for both sexes.
- Wikipedia
Mary Sues are typically used as jokes in my experience. But HOW dose one make their over powered character interesting to the audience? Well I may not be the best at making OCs but I can sure as hell educate you peeps to the best of my ability.
Rule 1. Do NOT under any circumstances make your OP character related to powerful characters with in the series your character exists in.
Rule 2. Make the backstory other then your typical "my parents died so I'll be just as edgy and cool as Shadow the Hedgehog" or being the "Last of my species" thing. I did that last one but the viewers of my story don't know that...yet. If you do make your OP character the last of their species you better damn well make them interesting in more ways then one.
Rule 3. Make the story behind said character something completely original and try to be creative.
Rule 4. In the event your character being in a position of political power, do NOT make them have a huge ego. If you insist on doing so then it can be difficult to work around this, but it IS possible. Just look at Tony Stark/Iron Man.
Rule 5. You must accept the fact that your OP character must be killable, do not make it so only a single well hidden artifact can kill him/her/it.
Rule 6. Omnipotence/Omnipresence is a stupid power and is something that no being in all of existence should ever have, nor is it possible.
Rule 7. Write down any lore relating to your OP character to maintain consistency in the story he/she/it may be in.
Rule 8. Make it known WHY this character is powerful. Is he/she/it a god? Is that god only a member of an entire species of gods? How did your character acquire so much knowledge, magic, super power(s), political status, and or social status?
Rule 9. Make your character HAVE FAULTS! A perfect entity is impossible on every conceivable level of understanding. One obscure weakness like Superman's Kryptonite is a lazy excuse and should not be used as an "original" (and I'm using it very loosely here) way to weaken or defeat your character.
Rule 10. The appearance of your OP character matters little but from what I've heard rainbows seem to be over used. If you do have rainbows in your character's appearance then be a BIT more creative then that, don't let it be a normal striped rainbow like Dash's mane and tail. Red and black mary sues are a BIG no no but if you DO have a red and black then you'll need to make up for it with unique character design and unorthodox backstory. If you ignore this then everyone will not take you seriously and simply scoff it off as a joke.
Rule 11. If you're gonna make a serious over powered character they better damn well be epic in not only combat, but also personality. Would you want your girlfriend to only love you for your looks? No, and if you do then you're shallow.
The linked story contains many examples of how to make a mary sue RIGHT. It may not be the most popular on this site but is a prime example in making good mary sues. If you don't like mary sues, then let me list off a few popular over powered characters.
Superman.
The Flash
Spiderman
Every character in the DBZ universe (except Krillin and Yamcha)
Iron Man/Tony Stark
Thor
Dr Eggman
Dr Wily
Shao Kahn
Dante (from Devil May Cry)
Bayonetta
Kratos
Spawn
Magneto
Sonic the Hedgehog
Agent Texas
Agent Main/Meta
that one guy with the crazy hair in the anime you love so much
Chuck Norris
Bruce Lee
Leonidas
The mane 6
Every god in every religion ever
Judge me how ever you like, I will only listen to those who look at this with respectful options and logic.
you forgot Segata Sanshiro, defender of the sega Saturn and the one being able to stand toe to toe With Chuck E. Norris (he also can KO a full club in 3 throws, and if he throws you you explode... twice....)
4409371 Well I only listed a few. I'm sure their's plenty more popular over powered characters out there. Like One Punch Man or any of Superman's enemies.