# If an invulnerable person was shot would the bullets bounce off or deform and fall? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 5, 2021, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-invulnerable-person-was-shot-would-the-bullets-bounce-off-or-deform-and-fall/941441 "2021-05-05T15:11:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cmyers1980](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyers1980/32/11814_2.png) [@Cmyers1980](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cmyers1980)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-invulnerable-person-was-shot-would-the-bullets-bounce-off-or-deform-and-fall/941441/1 "2021-05-05T15:11:42Z")
If a superhuman was completely invulnerable (like Luke Cage or Superman) and they were shot with a handgun or rifle would the bullets bounce off like in a comic book or would they deform and fall? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-invulnerable-person-was-shot-would-the-bullets-bounce-off-or-deform-and-fall/941441/2 "2021-05-05T15:14:32Z")
It’s your hypothetical, so you’d get to make up the rules. In the real world, if they were to bounce off the person as if the person was made of some type of really hard material. The bullet would deform. Not only because it’s so much softer than what it’s hitting, but also because they’re designed to deform. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-invulnerable-person-was-shot-would-the-bullets-bounce-off-or-deform-and-fall/941441/3 "2021-05-05T15:14:59Z")
Depends on the angle of the bullet. Also the composition of same. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-invulnerable-person-was-shot-would-the-bullets-bounce-off-or-deform-and-fall/941441/4 "2021-05-05T15:16:22Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Depends on the angle of the bullet. Also the composition of same. - What if the bullet was kryptonite? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-invulnerable-person-was-shot-would-the-bullets-bounce-off-or-deform-and-fall/941441/5 "2021-05-05T15:23:43Z")
I’m sure that has been addressed over the years. My personal opinion is that it would shatter on impact. It takes a bit of time for the kryptonite to work its way on Supes, so he’d still be invulnerable when the bullet impacted. I think. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-invulnerable-person-was-shot-would-the-bullets-bounce-off-or-deform-and-fall/941441/6 "2021-05-05T15:31:22Z")
1. Would need to know the reason for the invulnerability. Tough skin? Force field? Inertia dampening? 2. Whether or not the bullet was Kryptonite would only matter if we were in the DC universe and the person being shot was actually a version of Superman that was weakened by that fictional element. Since this wasn’t posted in Café Society, I am making the assumption that the OP is wondering what would happen is this particular ficton. ---
**Author:** ![Cmyers1980](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyers1980/32/11814_2.png) [@Cmyers1980](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cmyers1980)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-invulnerable-person-was-shot-would-the-bullets-bounce-off-or-deform-and-fall/941441/7 "2021-05-05T15:32:41Z")
I explicitly specified they were invulnerable like Luke Cage and Superman so that means they have tough skin. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-invulnerable-person-was-shot-would-the-bullets-bounce-off-or-deform-and-fall/941441/8 "2021-05-05T15:35:39Z")
> [@Cmyers1980](#): > > If a superhuman was completely invulnerable (like Luke Cage or Superman) and they were shot with a handgun or rifle would the bullets bounce off like in a comic book or would they deform and fall? If the superhero were absolutely rigid, the bullets would “splash” into smaller pieces that would scatter: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/srVouyX_WOQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Bullet hitting steel target in slow motion (960fps)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srVouyX_WOQ&t=109) If the superhero were rather softer (but still tear-resistant), you’d end up with something similar to what you see when people wearing bullet-resistant vests get shot: the bullet gets substantially deformed by the extremely high decel, but basically stopped without penetrating. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-invulnerable-person-was-shot-would-the-bullets-bounce-off-or-deform-and-fall/941441/9 "2021-05-05T15:39:15Z")
> **[The Super Skin of Superheroes: 86 Powerful Dermises of America's Comic Book...](https://www.mcdermatology.com/the-super-skin-of-superheroes-86-powerful-dermises-of-americas-comic-book-heroes-and-heroines.html)** > > If only our dermises could be invulnerable, unbreakable, elastic, metal, or ... better yet, acne free! (It might not be one of the most well-known superhero powers, but have you ever seen Superman... ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-invulnerable-person-was-shot-would-the-bullets-bounce-off-or-deform-and-fall/941441/10 "2021-05-05T17:10:03Z")
That’s a fun chart, but there are a lot of mistakes on it. For instance, Wolverine, Daken, and X-23 do not have dermal armor/dense tissue. Wolverine has the adamantium skeleton, but he’s the only one. And Ms. Marvel does not have invunerability. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-invulnerable-person-was-shot-would-the-bullets-bounce-off-or-deform-and-fall/941441/11 "2021-05-05T17:29:50Z")
John Byrne, who updated and redefined Superman’s powers, says that Supes has a biological force field that extends out to his skin-tight uniform, but not out to his cape…which gets torn to shreds in fights quite often. Other writers after Byrne have gone along with this idea. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-invulnerable-person-was-shot-would-the-bullets-bounce-off-or-deform-and-fall/941441/12 "2021-05-05T17:31:38Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > John Byrne, who updated and redefined Superman’s powers, says that Supes has a biological force field that extends out to his skin-tight uniform, but not out to his cape…which gets torn to shreds in fights quite often. Other writers after Byrne have gone along with this idea. - Has anyone asked why Superman has a cape, then? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-invulnerable-person-was-shot-would-the-bullets-bounce-off-or-deform-and-fall/941441/13 "2021-05-05T17:33:54Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Has anyone asked why Superman has a cape, then? The cape is still mighty tough, and is good for wrapping around people for protection for high-speed flights. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-invulnerable-person-was-shot-would-the-bullets-bounce-off-or-deform-and-fall/941441/14 "2021-05-05T17:38:58Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Has anyone asked why Superman has a cape, then I always assumed it was to taunt those tempted to tug on it. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-invulnerable-person-was-shot-would-the-bullets-bounce-off-or-deform-and-fall/941441/15 "2021-05-05T17:40:08Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > > [@running\_coach](#): > > > > Has anyone asked why Superman has a cape, then > > I always assumed it was to taunt those tempted to tug on it. - If they’ll spit in the wind, they’ll do _anything._ ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-invulnerable-person-was-shot-would-the-bullets-bounce-off-or-deform-and-fall/941441/16 "2021-05-05T17:45:56Z")
And what’s the difference between “invulnerable”, “unbreakable”, “bulletproof” and “dermal armor/dense tissue”? ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-invulnerable-person-was-shot-would-the-bullets-bounce-off-or-deform-and-fall/941441/17 "2021-05-05T17:55:58Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Has anyone asked why Superman has a cape, then? Why does any superhero have a cape? Who even wears capes outside of superheroes and turn-of-the-century Prussian generals? ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-invulnerable-person-was-shot-would-the-bullets-bounce-off-or-deform-and-fall/941441/18 "2021-05-05T17:59:06Z")
[El Zorro!](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zorro#/media/File:Zorro_(Diego_de_la_Vega).jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-invulnerable-person-was-shot-would-the-bullets-bounce-off-or-deform-and-fall/941441/19 "2021-05-05T18:09:52Z")
> [@Cmyers1980](#): > > I explicitly specified they were invulnerable like Luke Cage and Superman so that means they have tough skin. The above statements are only true if the correct writer is handling the story. It’s the comix, and nothing is true forever. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-invulnerable-person-was-shot-would-the-bullets-bounce-off-or-deform-and-fall/941441/20 "2021-05-05T18:14:39Z")
[Yes they have.](https://gizmodo.com/are-capes-aerodynamic-1826728817) No capes! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-invulnerable-person-was-shot-would-the-bullets-bounce-off-or-deform-and-fall/941441.md?page=2)