# Silly but logical questions about comic characters **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 12, 2009, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-but-logical-questions-about-comic-characters/517256 "2009-11-12T01:46:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-but-logical-questions-about-comic-characters/517256/81 "2009-11-16T18:42:31Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > - There seem to be certain things that WILL be said, and sometimes it is just better to say them, and get them done and over with. This is one of those things: Any discussion of Batman and Superman fighting must have the caveat that if Batman has preparation time, he will win. I don’t know why this inexorable law exists, yet it seems to pervade our segment of society, so, in the interest of moving on with the thread, I have said it, and now we can just keep going until Mr. Schicklgruber is invoked. But do you really think that Batman would fight Superman over the right to permanently cripple criminals? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-but-logical-questions-about-comic-characters/517256/82 "2009-11-16T19:00:52Z")
If superheroes actually killed people, they’d be called graphic novels, not comic books/soap operas. Why keep coming up with memorable and creative villians and heroes when you can keep resurrecting and escaping the old ones? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-but-logical-questions-about-comic-characters/517256/83 "2009-11-16T19:04:53Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > The Batman has deep psychological problems, and his inability to maim and/or kill is something he has no control over. There is that. A grown man who chooses to dress up as a flying mammal and stalk the night looking to beat up a psychopathic clown is not likely be be the most rational person in town. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-but-logical-questions-about-comic-characters/517256/84 "2009-11-16T19:36:54Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Reed Richards. The dude regularly invents high tech gizmos that can do any and everything. Mind the size of a planet, but does he solve the energy crisis ? Not as such, no. Solve world hunger ? He’ll… get back to you on that. Cure cancer ? Weeeell… > > He could, of course - what’s to stop him ? He invented a suit for Human Torch that withstands the insane temperatures his body reaches when he flames up. Firefighters would kill for that stuff, but does he give them the tech ? Bollocks he does. > > Reed Richards is a colossal jerk, and that’s that. See the [Reed Richards is Useless](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ReedRichardsIsUseless) trope page. Nitpick though: Richards didn’t invent a super-heat resistant substance to make Johnny Storm’s costume out of (well he probably _could_ but never mind). What he invented was “unstable molecules”, a substance that apparently synchs at the quantum level with whatever-it-is that makes metahumans’ powers possible. So Reed’s suit stretches with him, Sue’s costume turns invisible with her, and Johnny’s suit somehow resists burning up for whatever reason his own skin and flesh do. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-but-logical-questions-about-comic-characters/517256/85 "2009-11-16T21:19:26Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > See the [Reed Richards is Useless](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ReedRichardsIsUseless) trope page. Nitpick though: Richards didn’t invent a super-heat resistant substance to make Johnny Storm’s costume out of (well he probably _could_ but never mind). What he invented was “unstable molecules”, a substance that apparently synchs at the quantum level with whatever-it-is that makes metahumans’ powers possible. So Reed’s suit stretches with him, Sue’s costume turns invisible with her, and Johnny’s suit somehow resists burning up for whatever reason his own skin and flesh do. And if you put it on a normal human like a firefighter, it would ignite, just like we do. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-but-logical-questions-about-comic-characters/517256/86 "2009-11-16T21:33:56Z")
“What happens when you put Johnny Storm’s costume on a frog?” ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-but-logical-questions-about-comic-characters/517256/87 "2009-11-16T21:42:14Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > And if you put it on a normal human like a firefighter, it would ignite, just like we do. I have to disagree. In the 2099 universe. Miguel Ohara (Spiderman 2099) makes his super outfit from an Unstable Molecule fabric Day Of The Dead costume. He remarks that UM fabric is very expensive- presumably more so than current firefighter gear. He also mentions how hard it is to damage or destroy. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-but-logical-questions-about-comic-characters/517256/88 "2009-11-16T22:37:52Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > Galactus is a survivor of the previous universe. Clearly, his ship came with him. Partly correct. Galactus did come over with a ship which he then made bigger and more badass as he devoured more worlds and tech. Eventually it got to such a size that planets now orbit it. I’ve yet to find out if he put the worlds there intentionally or if they came about on their own and he just didn’t care. The real world answer is that it looks badass so that is why it was drawn that way. > **[Worldship (Taa II)](https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Worldship_(Taa_II))** > > 139 appearance(s) of Worldship (Taa II) 3 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Worldship (Taa II) 17 minor appearance(s) of Worldship (Taa II) 17 mention(s) of Worldship (Taa II) 2 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Worldship (Taa II) 10 image(s) of Worldship... ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-but-logical-questions-about-comic-characters/517256/89 "2009-11-16T22:45:15Z")
Permission error \*\*From Marvel DatabaseYou do not have permission to edit this page, for the following reasons: You must be a registered user and logged in to edit a page. Marvel Database has restricted the ability to create new pages. You can go back and edit an existing page, or log in or create an account. Retrieved from “[Worldship (Taa II) | Marvel Database | Fandom](http://marvel.wikia.com/Worldship_)(Taa\_II”\*\* Do you have a current picture that isn’t protected? I’m not signing up anywhere just to look at a picture. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-but-logical-questions-about-comic-characters/517256/90 "2009-11-17T00:48:29Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > Permission error > \*\*From Marvel DatabaseYou do not have permission to edit this page, for the following reasons: > > You must be a registered user and logged in to edit a page. > Marvel Database has restricted the ability to create new pages. You can go back and edit an existing page, or log in or create an account. > Retrieved from “[Worldship (Taa II) | Marvel Database | Fandom](http://marvel.wikia.com/Worldship_)(Taa\_II”\*\* > > Do you have a current picture that isn’t protected? I’m not signing up anywhere just to look at a picture. There was just a typo in the link (one close-parenthesis got left off)—[here ya go.](http://marvel.wikia.com/Worldship_%28Taa_II%29) ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-but-logical-questions-about-comic-characters/517256/91 "2009-11-17T00:55:26Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > A Batman who goes around maiming people is no better than The Punisher - and we all saw how well they got along in the most recent DC v. Marvel crossover So…how many of the Punisher’s enemies have stuck around in continuity long enough to get in three movies, and every single television series that Frank appeared in? I think I prefer a different definition of “better.” ---
**Author:** ![Mann\_Slaughter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@Mann\_Slaughter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mann_Slaughter)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-but-logical-questions-about-comic-characters/517256/92 "2009-11-17T19:00:18Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > How long are Wolverine’s claws anyway? To my eyes it looks like he shouldn’t be able to move his wrist (or possibly his elbow) when they are retracted. From the [Marvel.com](http://Marvel.com) [“Wolverine” character bio](http://marvel.com/universe/Wolverine_(James_Howlett)): “Wolverine’s skeleton includes six retractable one-foot long bone claws, three in each arm, that are housed beneath the skin and muscle of his forearms. Wolverine can, at will, release these slightly curved claws through his skin beneath the knuckles on each hand. The skin between the knuckles tears and bleeds, but the blood loss is quickly halted by his healing factor. Wolverine can unsheathe any number of his claws at once, although he must keep his wrists straight at the moment his claws shoot from his forearms into his hands. When unsheathed, the claws are fully within his hands, and thus Wolverine can still bend his wrists. The claws are naturally sharp and tougher than that of normal human bone structure, allowing Wolverine to cut through most types of flesh and natural materials.” One FOOT claws, huh? Well, that’s quite impressive considering that I’m a full foot taller than Wolverine, with ‘long monkey arms’, and my forearms from elbow to wrist are just under 12 inches long. I’ve often wondered why his claws don’t just pop off, or slap backward against his forearm when he cuts anything. He’s not invulnerable, and when his claws are unsheathed they’re not really attached to anything but the muscles that unsheathed them. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-but-logical-questions-about-comic-characters/517256/93 "2009-11-17T19:13:10Z")
And of course, what’s a problem with his current bone claws becomes an even worse problem when they were adamantium. Yes, in that period, his bones were also adamantium-laced, but his skin wasn’t. His muscles weren’t. His veins and arteries weren’t. He may have mutant healing factor, but when those hardest-metal-ever claws sever an artery in his forearm, he doesn’t have a lot of time to do that healing thing, especially when the claws are still IN THERE. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-but-logical-questions-about-comic-characters/517256/94 "2009-11-17T19:16:41Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > And of course, what’s a problem with his current bone claws becomes an even worse problem when they were adamantium. Yes, in that period, his bones were also adamantium-laced, but his skin wasn’t. His muscles weren’t. His veins and arteries weren’t. He may have mutant healing factor, but when those hardest-metal-ever claws sever an artery in his forearm, he doesn’t have a lot of time to do that healing thing, especially when the claws are still IN THERE. Unless something’s changed in the last few months, Wolverine’s claws are adamantium-coated again. Anyway, as I wrote upthread, clearly Logan’s internal anatomy is quite differnt from normal so as to accommodate his claws. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-but-logical-questions-about-comic-characters/517256/95 "2009-11-17T19:23:17Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > One I asked a _loooooong_ time ago…can Daredevil drive a car? I mean, even aside from the technical problems (does vehicle speed effect his ability to “see”? What about the windshield?), does he even know _how?_ I mean, he’s blind, _and_ a New Yorker—where would he learn? > > And do they actually try and treat anyone at Arkham Asylum? You’d think a couple of Haldols and a Valium nightly would do _some_ good in a few cases. As it happens there is some stuff on point. It seems rain and the windshield both cut down on his radarsense. Also, he can’t tell what a light shows. [http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/10born-6.jpg](http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/10born-6.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![kidneyfailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9f8e36/32.png) [@kidneyfailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidneyfailure)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-but-logical-questions-about-comic-characters/517256/96 "2009-11-18T23:33:51Z")
How does Wolverine get through the metal detectors at the airport? I understand that many passengers have metal hips or other implants, but an entire skeleton? That would probably set something off. Also, how do globe-trotting superheroes get around visa requirements? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-but-logical-questions-about-comic-characters/517256/97 "2009-11-18T23:44:03Z")
> [@kidneyfailure](#): > > How does Wolverine get through the metal detectors at the airport? I understand that many passengers have metal hips or other implants, but an entire skeleton? That would probably set something off. That’s long since explained. He has papers showing him as a Canadian army vet (true) who has extensive metal replacements in his skeleton (true but misleading) due to an accident (downright lie). > [@](#): > > Also, how do globe-trotting superheroes get around visa requirements? Pre-Crisis, Superman was officially a citizen of every nation in the UN. Which makes no sense, of course, but most likely it just meant he had an automatic visa for any country that was suffering earthquakes or volcanoes or alien invasions or whatnot. Despite the last word in their name, which frankly they’d be wise to abandon, the Justice League of America tends to be a UN-sponsored organization, and doubtless has a similar deal. Hal Jordan, working outside the auspices of the JLA, has had to deal with crap. I can recall the Avengers having trouble on this issue. When Iron Man globe-trots it tends to be on behalf of Stark International or Enterprises or Industries or whatever the hell it is; I assume his lawyers have smoothed the way for him. I’m sure Thor does not sweat borders. When local authorities complain, he points out that he is Thor and they fall in line. ---
**Author:** ![kidneyfailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9f8e36/32.png) [@kidneyfailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidneyfailure)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-but-logical-questions-about-comic-characters/517256/98 "2009-11-19T00:03:19Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > That’s long since explained. He has papers showing him as a Canadian army vet (true) who has extensive metal replacements in his skeleton (true but misleading) due to an accident (downright lie). > > Pre-Crisis, Superman was officially a citizen of every nation in the UN. Which makes no sense, of course, but most likely it just meant he had an automatic visa for any country that was suffering earthquakes or volcanoes or alien invasions or whatnot. > > Despite the last word in their name, which frankly they’d be wise to abandon, the Justice League of America tends to be a UN-sponsored organization, and doubtless has a similar deal. Hal Jordan, working outside the auspices of the JLA, has had to deal with crap. > > I can recall the Avengers having trouble on this issue. > > When Iron Man globe-trots it tends to be on behalf of Stark International or Enterprises or Industries or whatever the hell it is; I assume his lawyers have smoothed the way for him. > > I’m sure Thor does not sweat borders. When local authorities complain, he points out that he is Thor and they fall in line. Re: Wolvie Ah, that makes sense. Although I remember him having a bad relationship with the Canadian government in the past (Chasen telling him he’d “lock him up” in Giant-Size X-Men #1, sending Alpha Flight to kidnap him back to Canada). Seems as though it’s been resolved since then (I haven’t had a chance to read comics in a while, unfortunately). Re: visas I’m sure Thor especially doesn’t have trouble crossing Scandinavian borders. Another question: why doesn’t Kabuki (of the David Mack Image comic) just get plastic surgery to deal with the scars on her face? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-but-logical-questions-about-comic-characters/517256/99 "2009-11-19T00:20:23Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Despite the last word in their name, which frankly they’d be wise to abandon, the Justice League of America tends to be a UN-sponsored organization, and doubtless has a similar deal. They actually were Justice League International for a while, then (IIRC) just The Justice League. Don’t know when they switched back. > [@](#): > > Hal Jordan, working outside the auspices of the JLA, has had to deal with crap. I guess the sanction of the Guardians doesn’t count for much here on provincial old Earth. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-but-logical-questions-about-comic-characters/517256/100 "2009-11-19T00:34:46Z")
With the condition of the world’s oceans and fish getting worse, Aquaman is one sorry ‘superhero’. His kingdom and subjects are getting decimated. Who’s a more useless ‘superhero’ than Ant-man? (didn’t he also have the power to become a giant, or was that someone else?). I remember his stories in The Mighty Thor comic book and all I could think is what a boring dweeb. Who looked like an asshole riding on an ANT. It always bugs me when there’s a big fight in the middle of the city between, say, the Fantastic Four and some villain. Cars get squashed. Buildings get knocked over. Streets get ripped up. Massive mayhem and destruction. Who pays for the repairs? Insurance companies? The Fantastic Four? I think if a villain came along now and pushed the Statue of Liberty off its pedestal, it would just lie there until Charlton Heston came riding on a horse along the beach… And whatever happened to Sue Storm’s/Reed Richard’s kid? I stopped reading about the time she was pregnant and I’ve only read he was sent into, I dunno, alternate universes? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-but-logical-questions-about-comic-characters/517256.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-but-logical-questions-about-comic-characters/517256.md?page=6)