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I'm working on a script for a new idea...my first attempt at writing something hero oriented. Most of my stuff is more dark and cerebral type stuff. Anyway, the hero can't speak. The thing that gives him his "power" makes it physically impossible. There's tons of captioned internal monologue but no actual talking between him and the other characters. Do you think this would be a turn off to most readers? I think it adds to his persona and character, but then again I'm the creator so I can't really rely on my opinion.

...hmm, could be good but a bit taxing for the reader. You'll need to brainstorm how he will be able to communicate with the other character's. Or they'll need to speak for him.

Ah, jeffrey the silent superhero... he's been to my apartment again, left a note. Says he's fighting a horde of demons on 23rd street tonight.

Y'know, the other character's become HIS voice.

Finish the script with whatever content you feel like. Get criticism. Change it in the next draft (if you want)

I think it's a tricky challenge and something I would not have the courage to attempt myself.

Some of the best comics ever written have been free of dialogue, and the Buffy episode "Hush" was done without any dialogue at all. But we're talking people with years of experience.

My vote: Write it, but don't be surprised if it doesn't sell. If it doesn't, put it in a drawer, come back to it in a few years, rework with what you've learned.

Quite possibly one of the most powerful and intriguing humanoids in the Marvel Universe.
He does not speak. Ever.
If he did, his voice would shatter mountains.
So, if you're writing a great story, I'm sure your character would rock.

One of the most powerful characters in the Marvel Universe is Black Bolt and he CAN'T speak without blowing cities apart. It's all about execution. Also look at films...one of the most beautiful and powerful Pixar films was Wall-E and there was NO dialogue for about 75 percent of it. I, as an artist, would be interested in working on something like that.

phdillard wrote:I'm working on a script for a new idea...my first attempt at writing something hero oriented. Most of my stuff is more dark and cerebral type stuff. Anyway, the hero can't speak. The thing that gives him his "power" makes it physically impossible. There's tons of captioned internal monologue but no actual talking between him and the other characters. Do you think this would be a turn off to most readers? I think it adds to his persona and character, but then again I'm the creator so I can't really rely on my opinion.

I think that it holds much potential.

You could use "thought bubbles," which may be what you mean by "internal monologue," to allow the character's thoughts to be read and understood by the reader. What other characters do in a given situation, however, could provide much fodder, humorous or otherwise. Maybe he intends to save a bridge, and someone else blows it up, leaving him to think, "WTF?!"

On a more serious vein, though, the fact that he can't speak could be the primary vehicle for his humanity to show through. For all of his powers, his struggle is internal. Ordinary things become problematic. He can save a city, but has difficulty ordering a sandwich - that sort of thing.

Without the ability to communicate it might make it difficult to show any character growth... but that could be worked as a strength.

Look at it this way... it could work well if he was a force that moved through peoples lives changing them for the better. Kind of like Forrest Gump; he never has to change because his presence and influence changes everyone around him. People in fact become better and grow because of him.

Snake Eyes is without speech... I never read G.I. Joe comics so I'm not sure how they convey his communication.