Powerless

Marvel’s Powerless (2005) is a single-issue one-shot that flips the superhero script by imagining a world where ordinary people—not costumed heroes—are the norm, and those with powers are the feared and misunderstood outliers. Written by Matt Cherniss and Peter Johnson with moody, grounded art by Michael Gaydos, the story explores the gritty human consequences of a society that views superhuman abilities as a curse rather than a gift. It’s a quiet, character-driven Marvel tale that stands apart for its somber, real-world take on the genre’s core themes.