With Great power
Pacing Power Scaling for Stories in an Expanding Universe
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Andrew Rodriguez
What is Power Scaling?
Those of us who have existed in geek spaces for any significant length of time are well acquainted with the term “Power Scaling.” But to the uninitiated, “Power Scaling” is used in conversation amongst fans of a given franchise when discussing matters of Who vs. Who debates. The discourse will typically involve examples of feats vs. consistency with one character and matching those against the other in the debate.
However, for our purposes here, we want to discuss power scaling in relation to storytelling in an expanding, interconnected universe of characters. We want to understand why scaling power is important, as it has (or should) far-reaching ripple effects throughout an ever-growing world of stories. This is done to maintain cohesion in addition to continuity. There are large pitfalls that many writers can quickly find themselves trapped in when careful consideration is not paid to proper scaling power and threats within their stories.
Why Power Scaling Matters in Expanding Universes
Bear in mind that this discussion is primarily aimed at those with grand designs of creating a vast, ever-expanding universe of connected characters and stories. Though keeping in mind the pacing of these things in a more limited series can also prove useful, the negative impact of not being so vigilant is far less potentially damaging rather than inevitably and powerfully thus. And one-off stories are essentially carte blanche to go wild (keep in mind that this would, in fact, have a tremendous impact on the viability of a believable follow-up), so we won’t concern ourselves with that.
Pacing Threat Levels in Storytelling
This is a multifaceted piece and one that we can see the direct impact daily. As writers, there can be a tendency (or temptation) to want to play around with threats of a world-, intergalactic-, or even multiversal-ending (if you’re into that sort of thing—no judgment) threat.
- Why do we have this tendency? Without putting too fine a point on it, it’s because we get to allow our imagination to run wild and play with cool toys that we’d rather not wait to play with.
- Why should we avoid and resist this tendency? Because it can cause our imagination to run rampant, and we miss out on the fun of building to those larger set pieces.
For example, Peter Parker wouldn’t be the “Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man” if, on his first spandex-clad outing, he was trading blows with the Mad Titan Thanos, nor Batman the Dark Knight of Gotham if he was doing likewise with Darkseid. And where would they go from there?
Where do you go from there?
When you pit your hero against the greatest threat in the universe right out of the gate? The answer is: the next biggest threat in the universe, and then one after that, and after that, and again and on. You lock yourself into a cycle of universe-ending threats that leave you trapped and in a position where scaling back can feel underwhelming for your readers and difficult to rebalance the capabilities of your heroes with the threat level of the villains after they’ve already defeated something or someone who vastly outclasses them.
The Consequences of Power Scaling Decisions
It’s been said that “with great power, there must also come great responsibility,” but this doesn’t just apply to iconic wall-crawling, web-slinging heroes. Writers bear the great responsibility of maintaining continuity within an expanding and interconnected universe of stories and characters when they hold the great power of creating one.
How does this factor into power scaling?
- The choices made in these stories will have lasting consequences, both immediate and long-term.
- When you overinflate a character’s power set or introduce threats that are too large too early, you risk breaking the narrative balance.
Example Consequences:
- Locking yourself into a cycle of escalating threats.
- Resorting to story contrivances to ignore your character’s established powers.
- Losing audience investment because the stakes no longer feel authentic.
Room for Growth: Building Towards Big Moments
We’ve covered the pitfalls of improper pacing and power scaling, but what are the benefits of pacing properly in an expanding graphic novel universe?
Benefits of Narrative Diligence:
- Patience Pays Off: Allowing your story the space to breathe lets you build toward satisfying, impactful moments.
- Organic Development: Carefully paced growth ensures that both characters and threats evolve naturally.
- Audience Engagement: Readers will appreciate the carefully laid plans and become more invested in the journey.
There’s a literary beauty in setting up not just the cool powers your character may attain down the road but also the Big Bad Endgame-style final boss villain. When you finally reach those moments, the payoff is tremendous because of the rapport built with your audience.
Final Thoughts on Maintaining Narrative Balance
When it comes to storytelling in interconnected and expanding universes, pacing and power scaling are not just nice-to-haves—they’re critical to success. By resisting the temptation to jump straight to the biggest and most epic threats, you ensure your story has room to grow and evolve, leaving your audience eager for what comes next.
Call to Action
What are your favorite examples of power scaling done right in graphic novels or storytelling? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or explore our latest articles on creating compelling characters and building interconnected universes. For an example of how Rippaverse does such, we invite you to check out Bloodruth #1 and see how our lore masters—the Soska Sisters—scaled Bloodruth.
