Reality warping

Reality warping in superhero fiction is a superpower. It is the ability to reshape matter and energy, create or alter life and matter, turn a person's thoughts or desires into reality, simulate any and all other powers and abilities, bend time and space or possibly even rewrite the laws of physics.

All things are possible for a reality-warper, making them seem omnipotent. The Joker, wielding the power of Mr. Mxyzptlk as "Emperor Joker", was even able to rewrite logic itself, for example, making the whole world believe that 2 + 2 equals "fish".

Some of the most extreme reality warpers, like Mxyzptlk and James Jaspers, are not even limited by their own physical bodies and can alter their own stature and appearance at will to become whatever they want to be, no matter how bizarre it might beFact|date=June 2007. In DC comics, the fifth-dimensional imps that sometimes visit the DC universe, of which Mxyzptlk is the most common and well-known, seem to be the most common and also the most powerful reality warpersFact|date=June 2007.

Rarely in fiction are reality warpers depicted as heroic or benign. Reality warpers in fiction are almost always antagonists, villains or otherwise depicted as dangerous. This generally is a necessity of the plot; a reality warping protagonist would face few, if any, true challenges. Reality warpers exhibiting a childlike (such as Anthony Fremont) or insane personality (like Proteus or Mad Jim Jaspers) are also common.

Another typical theme in fiction is for the protagonist to be granted this ability and must resist abusing the power. Reality warpers are also commonly affected by their subconscious minds, which cause reality to change against their will (like Magician of Ultimate X-Men or Doctor Doom with the Beyonder's power).

In cartoons, the effects of reality warping are often shown to be temporary. For example, in "", reality returns to normal after Mr. Mxyzptlk is tricked into going back to his dimension. It's important not to mix reality warping and matter manipulation. Characters like Vulcan, Mister M and the Silver Surfer can change and manipulate matter, but they can not alter the fabric of reality itself.

Also other common issue with reality warpers may be that they may not be aware of their power and as they have almost no wishes so their powers are rarely manifested (like "The Man With The Power"). Many times, excessive wishing and discomfort turns them into threats so the surrounding characters must make sure the warper is happy with the actual situation so that they don't cause any major damage or discover their power (like Haruhi Suzumiya).

Marvel's reality warpers

The Marvel Universe is known to have a large amount of individuals that can manipulate reality. Characters with potential for reality warping encountered in Marvel comics include:

*Anomaly
*Jamie Braddock
*Dream Weaver [ [http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/dreamwea.htm Dream Weaver (Dr. Strange foe) ] ]
*Fan Boy
*Kelly [ [http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/kellycms.htm Kelly (Captain Marvel (Genis) character) ] ]
*Kulan Gath
*Mad Jim Jaspers
*Onslaught
*Proteus
*Franklin Richards
*Scarlet Witch
*Sphinx
*Twilight
*Tyler Trevor Chase [ [http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=2161 Comixfan Forums - Chase, Trevor ] ]
*Willie Evans, Jr. [ [http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/evanswil.htm Willie Evans Jr. and Grunt (Fantastic Four/Iron Man/X-Factor character(s) ) ] ]
*Magician
*Wiccan
*The Impossible Man
*Korvac
*Kubik
*The Man With the Power
*Mephisto
*Shaper of Worlds
*Beyonder

Other comics reality warpers

Apart from the MU reality warpers, many other different beings in DC and other comics also possess reality warping powers, or powers which might potentially be used for reality alteration. These include, amongst others:

*Bat-Mite (DCU)
*The Doctor (WS)
*Doctor Manhattan (DCU)
*Enerjak (Archie Comics)
*Ion (DCU)
*Mammoth Mogul (Archie Comics)
*Matthew Cable (DCU)
*Mr. Mxyzptlk (DCU)
*Neron (DCU)
*Parallax (DCU)
*Qwsp (DCU)
*The Spectre (DCU)
*The Thunderbolt (DCU)
*Trigon the Terrible (DCU)
*Amazo (DCAU)
*Elyon Brown (W.I.T.C.H)
*Solar (Valiant)
*Mothergod (Valiant)
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ace_(comics) Ace] ( [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_League_(TV_series) Justice league animated tv series] )
*Minus

Non-comics reality warpers

Apart from comic characters, there has been a number of science fiction and fantasy characters who have exhibited reality warping powers of various forms, at least within the boundaries of certain environments and/or restrictions. Such characters include:
* Gary Mitchell (Star Trek),
* Metatron (Dogma)
*Anyanka and Willow Rosenberg ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer")
*Avatars, including Cole Turner and Leo Wyatt ("Charmed")
*Prime Intellect (The Metamorphosis of Prime Intellect)
*Cyvus Vail ("Angel")
*Sutter Cane ("In the Mouth of Madness")
*Celestial Toymaker and, briefly, Rose Tyler ("Doctor Who")
*Cosmo, Wanda and numerous other magical beings ("The Fairly OddParents")
*Crayak ("Animorphs")
*Ellimist ("Animorphs")
*Alien X ("")
*Larry ("Teen Titans (TV series)")
*Possibly Elders ("Charmed")
*Figment (Epcot's Journey Into Imagination attraction, most noticeably in the current version)
*Genie (Disney) (Movie)
*Genies (Mythology)
*Grim Reaper ("The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy")
*Alessa Gillespie (Silent Hill)
*Palmer Eldritch ("The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch" by Philip K. Dick)
*Anthony Fremont from It's a Good Life by Jerome Bixby, which was made into a Twilight Zone episode with the same name.
*Wyatt Halliwell ("Charmed")
*Orihime Inoue ("Bleach")
*Gemini Saga ("Saint Seiya")
*Gemini Kanon ("Saint Seiya")
*Lain Iwakura ("Serial Experiments Lain")
*It/Pennywise ("It")
*Barbas, the Demon of Fear ("Charmed")
*Billie Jenkins ("Charmed")
*Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare on Elm Street)
*Divis Mal (Aberrant role-playing game)
*The Mask (comics & movie)
*John Murdock ("Dark City")
*Neo (The Matrix)
*George Orr ("The Lathe of Heaven" by Ursula K. Le Guin)
*Q ("")
*Amanda Rogers ("")
*Sarda the Sage of 8-Bit Theater
*Jobe Smith ("The Lawnmower Man")
*The Strangers ("Dark City")
*Haruhi Suzumiya (Suzumiya Haruhi series)
*Sasaki (Suzumiya Haruhi series)
*Robert Hayden (The Law of Ueki)
*Dark Schneider (Bastard!!)
*Yubel (Yu-Gi-Oh! GX)
*Yūko Ichihara (xxxHolic)
*Tess Harding ("Roswell")
*Max (The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D)
*Aziraphale (Good Omens)
*Crowley (Good Omens)
*Adam (Good Omens)

Limited to probability or uncontrolled reality manipulation

Artifacts with reality warping abilities

In addition to individuals, objects in fiction have also been attributed with the ability to alter reality, typically in response to its owner's thoughts and/or desires.
* Cosmic Cube
* Infinity Gauntlet
* The "Sphere" from Michael Crichton's novel by the same tile.
* The Reality Gauntlet from Danny Phantom

ee also

*List of comic book superhero powers
*omnipotence

References