[[{“value”:”
Lauded sci-fi/fantasy author Brandon Sanderson affirmed that if he could have one Marvel superpower, it would be a healing factor of the variety possessed by legendary heroes such as Wolverine and Deadpool. “This is probably the one I would pick,” Sanderson said of regenerative healing abilities, citing longevity and lack of worry about mortality as factors in his decision.
In a conversation with Wren Weichman about their “five favorite superpowers,” Sanderson showcased the depth of his thinking on the mechanics of superpowers, and the ups and downs of superhero storytelling. Notably, he stated that writing characters with healing factors isn’t particularly interesting to him, but having the power himself would be a different story.
The author’s comments echo many fans’ sentiments; while plenty of people would love to have the Human Torch’s “flame on” abilities, or his brother-in-law Mr. Fantastic’s stretching-powers, there are drawbacks to flashier superpowers, something Brandon Sanderson is keenly aware of.
Sanderson’s Take Reflects Many Fans’ POV
The superhero genre by its nature, is a form of fantasy storytelling, one that author Brandon Sanderson has devoted his life to. Within that context, there are different types of fantasies that can be appealed to, using different types of super-abilities. In part, this is what makes the “what superpower would you want?” question so psychologically potent.
Related
Can Deadpool Survive Decapitation? Marvel Has a Surprising Answer
Deadpool’s healing factor is legendary, but fans have wondered if he can survive without a head. Marvel has the official, shockingly specific answer.
So, for example, while Magneto’s mutant ability to control metal, or Professor X’s mind-controlling abilities, might offer a literal power fantasy, the idea of a healing factor is rooted in a fantastical rejection of death. For people who have anxiety surrounding death and dying, the thought of a regenerative healing factor is a tantalizing prospect.
Count Sanderson among those who find the idea appealing. As he stated:
If I just have a healing factor, so that I know I’m not going to…y’know…Or, even better, you get the Wolverine thing, and you’ve got two, three hundred years in there…
Again, this helps illustrate how, for people who are all-too-aware of how limited their time on Earth is, and how fragile life is, the fantasy of regenerative powers, especially those that bring nigh-invulnerability to injury and an abatement of death, can be a balm on the nerves.
Immortality Might Have Its Downsides, But Many Superhero Fans Would Take The Risk
Brandon Sanderson Among Them
Of course, fans of the concepts of healing, invulnerability, and immortality as concepts in fiction know how much drama can be reaped from exploring the inevitable drawbacks of these seeming “gifts.” Yet that doesn’t stop them from fantasizing about it. As Brandon Sanderson put it:
I’ve read too many stories about how terrible immortality is…which, I’m not sure it would be that terrible.
This stands out because it represents a familiar line of thinking that many similarly-minded superhero fans will recognize.
Related
Sci-Fi Writer Brandon Sanderson Accuses Marvel of Forgetting the Meaning of Antihero: “Punisher? Just a Hero at This Point”
Brandon Sanderson recently posted a YouTube Short that offered a unique perspective on the anti-hero trope, arguing they are heroes in disguise.
That is, anyone who has spent enough time to determine that a Wolverine, or Deadpool-style healing factor, i.e. functional immortality, is the superpower they would choose to have, is likely to have followed that line of thought enough to have considered the drawbacks, and decided they could handle them.
Sanderson himself says as much in his conversation with Wren Weichman, and he also points out how he has characters in his own fantasy novels who are “tens of thousands of years old,” highlighting that he has done more than just thought through the idea of immortality, but has incorporated it into his own creative work.
Healing Powers Are Essential To What Makes Deadpool And Wolverine Iconic Heroes
The Characters Provide High-Yield Fantasy Value
As much as Wolverine’s claws, or Deadpool’s quips and fourth-wall-breaks have been instrumental in elevating them to legendary Marvel hero status, part of the fundamental appeal of both characters has been their extreme version of regenerative powers, ranking them at the top of the list of Marvel’s strongest healing factors.
Brandon Sanderson’s brief, effective argument emphasizes why so many people, like himself, would ultimately go with healing factor.
Readers love the intense, often over-the-top action this power can produce, but on a more fundamental level, the attraction of regenerative powers stems from the desirability of the ability. Of all the Marvel superpowers there are, Brandon Sanderson’s brief, effective argument emphasizes why so many people, like himself, would ultimately go with healing factor.
Source: “Brandon Sanderson and Wren’s Weichman Five Favorite Superpowers!”
The human mutant Wolverine (a.k.a. Logan) was born James Howlett, blessed with a superhuman healing factor, senses, and physiology. Subjecting himself to experimentation to augment his skeleton and claws with adamantium, Logan is as deadly as he is reckless, impulsive, and short-tempered. Making him the X-Men’s wildest and deadliest member, and one of Marvel Comics’ biggest stars. He’s played in Fox and Marvel’s movie franchises by Hugh Jackman.
The merc with the mouth first appeared in an issue of New Mutants in 1990, and since then has gone on to get his own series and a massive cult following. With his incredible powers of healing and regeneration, Deadpool was initially depicted as an X-Men villain but went on to become an anti-hero. After getting his own movie series starting in 2016, the third Deadpool movie finally brings the wisecracking, fourth-wall-breaking character into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
“}]] Brandon Sanderson names his preferred power. Read More