Volume 6 Numbers 1 and 2 | Apr-Sept 2026

No Surprises

Story idea by Mohd Yasaar | Story by Nathan D’Costa | Art by Mohith O

 

Yasaar’s pitch:

If I had to name my childhood superpower, it would definitely be rizz, (the shortened form of the word charisma, declared as the Oxford Word of the Year 2023) – that effortless ability to flirt, play, charm, connect with people, and spark up the kind of conversations that leave an impression, that feeling of building up an aura of your own. I’ve been into it for the past few years, and you know how they say practice makes perfect – well, I guess that’s how I ended up here!

 

Why it’s important to me

Growing up, I always felt that real magic wasn’t about flying or invisibility – it was about connection. Being able to walk into a room and light it up, to make someone laugh, feel special, or just be excited to be with you. When you look into the eyes of a person and have such an effect that they wait for the next time it will happen. Believe it or not, but it feels way more powerful to me than any comic book power.

 

What inspired it

Mr. Anthony Edward Stark is someone I look up to as an ideal in this matter. It wasn’t just his suit that made him a superhero – it was his confidence, his wit, and how he made people believe in him, come to him, get seduced by his smoothness. His tech is cool, but his real power? It’s how he talks, how he moves. How he owns every conversation, and every heart on which he performs his magic. I saw that and thought – okay, that’s power. That’s what I want to learn.

 

How I would use it to make the world better

My world gets better by seeing the world of my loved ones get better. My superpower does not account for much productivity in the physical sense as it’s all about feelings but I believe that with a smile on my face and affection in my heart, I can make this world look like a better place and revive the amity in people whom I meet, by establishing intimate emotional attachment with those who need it the most.

Rizz isn’t about a serious dedicated interest in someone, it’s a playful way of verbal and nonverbal communication, which can make people feel wanted, attractive and above all, happy. A little connection, a little spark – it can flip someone’s whole day (or life) around.