Sub-Reality Existence

Grant Morrison explaining the fictional world and the real world to Animal Man

Grant Morrison explaining the fictional world and the real world to Animal Man

Background

Sub-Reality Existence is the state of being for entities that reside within subordinate planes of reality, such as fictional worlds, dreams, or storybooks, as perceived from the perspective of a primary or external reality. These entities are bound to their respective realities, existing within layers that are often considered fictional, intangible, or conceptual by those outside their plane of existence. Examples include comic book characters existing in their comic universes, characters living in dreamscapes, or beings from mythological tales brought to life within their storybooks.

Applications

• Self-Containment: The user’s existence may be confined to their specific sub-reality.
• Layered Interaction: Ability to interact with external or other sub-realities (e.g., breaking the fourth wall, interacting with dreamers).
• Dreamscape Influence: Control over dream-based realities or the ability to influence dreamers.
• Narrative Dependency: User's powers and existence may rely on the rules and structure of their sub-reality, such as those of a story, comic, or dream.

Possible Limitations

• Sub-Reality Existence may restrict beings to their own layer of existence unless they possess abilities to transcend (e.g., dimensional travel, waking from dreams).
• Vulnerable to changes made by external entities, such as creators, dreamers, or storytellers.
• Existence may be unstable if the sub-reality is altered, forgotten, or erased.

Examples of Sub-Realities

• Fictional Worlds: Comic book characters residing within their comic universes.
• Dream Realms: Characters or entities existing within dreamscapes, such as those shaped by the dreamer’s imagination.
• Storybooks: Beings living within the narratives of storybooks, such as fairy tale characters.
• Imaginary Worlds: Universes created by the imagination of individuals, such as the Smash fighters from the World of Imagination.