I love those superpowers that are barely superpowers or that are so mediocre it’s like, come on, universe, why even waste time bestowing that gift? Surely there’s more important tasks you could spend time on. What springs to mind for examples are:

• Moist from Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, who slightly wettens things

• The main character from Treasured who can look a few seconds into the future, even though waiting a few seconds achieves the same thing. (You can check out my review for this book here!)

• The Invisible Boy who can only turn invisible if people aren’t watching him from Mystery Men. (sorry because this reference is practically ancient by now.)

In general, invisibility seems like one of the worst, least wished for superpowers ever. And when John Hyde stops feeling overlooked and becomes literally overlooked while turning invisible, he’s stumbled onto one of those ‘meh’ superpowers in my Vella novel Invisi-bi-lity.

Mostly, invisibility is good for spying on people. Which is extreme nosiness, bordering on creepy voyeurism. If you wanted to rob banks or commit crimes, your face wouldn’t show up on cameras. But then we’re entering criminal territory and I’d imagine you’d still need skill at criming to get very far.

Questionable superpowers are only the start of John’s problems in the novel. He’s also having trouble coming out as bisexual because some of his friends think being bi doesn’t really exist. He’s talking to his sympathetic friend Sky in this scene.

~

“When people wanna overrule who another person is, I’m a little sensitive to it. Who has the right to dictate someone else’s truth?”

Somewhat comforting words. Except why didn’t she speak up in there?

“Look, I should be a braver person.” She sighs. “But I don’t wanna rock the boat. It’s a lonely thing, isn’t it?”

“What?”

“To be among your own people and still not understood.” From her knowing stare and the sad little smile on her face, I almost wish she couldn’t see me.