Hard Magic

Usually, a superpower system wouldn’t make this list, but the detail and logic Coreia imbues makes it a must read. ‘Actives’ are a small, yet growing percentage of the population, and that makes them targets. Each has a single ability, but it works a little differently to most superhero tales. In Hard Magic, powers are finite. A user can only use their power until it’s depleted, followed by a lengthy recovery period. It’s a small change, but it has large impacts on the plot. Characters are no longer undefeatable; each one can be worn to the point of exhaustion and then captured or killed. It also adds a layer of strategy other than ‘punch them until they die’. Powers include healing, animal control, strength increases, gravity alteration, invisibility, and more. If working together, they can hold back for vital moments, or work all at once to wield great power. Using this system, the series re-works some of history’s biggest figures, revealing the powers behind their rise. It’s all setintherarely explored timeline of the 20s and 30s, magic painting a world very different to the history books. With excellent pacing, great action scenes and a few noir elements, it’s very hard to put down.