So, I wanted to ask my readers something before I truly begin this story—where should it start?
The DC Universe in this fanfiction is already alive and established. The Justice League, the Justice Society, and the villains all exist and have their own history. Because of that, I don't want to begin by explaining the world again. Instead, I'm thinking of starting at the moment when something feels off—when the balance of this familiar universe begins to quietly crack.
My idea is to open the story during a time of subtle instability. Not an all-out war yet, but a disturbance in reality, a strange fluctuation, or the uneasy calm after an unseen conflict. Something that makes the heroes or even the villains sense that the world isn't as stable as it should be. This would naturally lead into Ben Tennyson's arrival without forcing heavy exposition.
Rather than introducing Ben immediately, I'm considering starting from a DC point of view—perhaps a hero detecting an unknown energy, a villain noticing a cosmic anomaly, or a city reacting to something it cannot understand. This way, the story stays grounded in the DC Universe first, letting the tension build before Ben enters the scene.
When Ben does arrive, it wouldn't be loud or overexplained. His presence would be felt through reactions: technology malfunctioning, magic responding strangely, or cosmic forces stirring. Ben himself would be cautious and observant, clearly experienced but not revealing everything he can do. At this point, he isn't a savior or an enemy—just an unknown variable.
Early on, the focus wouldn't be on Ben joining the Justice League or fighting major villains. Instead, both sides would study each other. Ben would test the rules of this universe, while the heroes and villains try to understand what he is and where he came from. The story would stay centered around a small core—a key hero, a major villain, and a cosmic or mystical force—to keep everything focused and meaningful.
So that's where I'm thinking of starting: a stable DC world beginning to destabilize, an unfamiliar presence entering it, and the consequences slowly unfolding from there. I'd love to know—does this feel like the right place to begin, or would you want the story to start even closer to Ben's arrival?
And after that, I'd also like to ask my readers how Ben should be presented in this universe, because this choice will define the entire tone of the story.
One idea is to introduce Ben at an almost omnipotent level, someone who clearly stands above most threats in the DC Universe. However, somewhere in the middle of the story, a major accident, cosmic backlash, or multiversal consequence could occur—something that locks his aliens. From that point onward, Ben would no longer be unstoppable. To regain access to his transformations, he would need to unlock new DNA, possibly through close contact, battles, or resonance with powerful beings like Supergirl, Batgirl, Wonder Woman, and others. This would turn his journey into one of rediscovery, limitation, and growth rather than pure dominance.
Another approach is to present Ben as powerful but restricted from the very beginning. His aliens could already be sealed due to the DC universe rejecting the Omnitrix's foreign DNA system, forcing him to slowly adapt. Unlocking forms wouldn't just be about strength, but about understanding this new universe—its biology, its magic, and its cosmic rules. Each new unlock would feel earned and story-driven.
There's also the option of keeping Ben fully capable but emotionally or morally restrained—someone who can end conflicts instantly, but chooses not to, because doing so might destabilize the world or attract far greater threats. In this version, the tension doesn't come from lack of power, but from the consequences of using it.
So I want to know what readers would prefer:
Should Ben begin as nearly omnipotent and then be brought down by circumstance?
Should his aliens be locked from the start, turning the story into a long-term progression?
Or should his power remain intact, with the real struggle coming from responsibility, balance, and restraint?
Your thoughts on how Ben should be presented will help shape not just his role—but the entire direction of the story.