# Underappreciated superheroes powers appreciation thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 31, 2004, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951 "2004-05-31T19:52:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/21 "2004-06-02T01:37:11Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > The thing that annoyed me about Triplicate Girl was that she was from a planet where _everyone_ had the ability to split into three parts. She was, apparently, jst the first one from that planet who had the desire to join the Legion. But imagine if there was some Legion of Super Heroes elsewhere in he Galaxy where nobody else could, say, spit. I could join as Spit Lad (or Expectoration Master, or something). How about “Mr. Loogie”? ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/22 "2004-06-02T01:50:36Z")
The Green Expectorater. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2004, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/23 "2004-06-02T02:41:47Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > The thing that annoyed me about Triplicate Girl was that she was from a planet where _everyone_ had the ability to split into three parts. She was, apparently, jst the first one from that planet who had the desire to join the Legion. **CMKeller** Is the SDMB’s Legion expert. But OTTOMH, the following Legionaires came from planets where everybody had that power- Saturn Girl- telepathy Cosmic Boy- magnetic powers Chameleon Boy-shapechanging Polar Boy- (originally a member of the substitutes) can project cold Dream Girl- prescience (her sister was born without this racial ability and compensated by learning magic and joining as the White Witch) The already mentioned Matter Eater Lad- the ability to safely eat and digest nearly anything. All Bismolians have the same ability. I’m sure there are plenty of others. For folks who like odd superhero powers I recommend the comic Flaming Carrot. He’s a member of the Mystery Men(the same ones the film was based on) and numerous Mystery Men appear in various issues. I also recommend the computer rpg The Superhero League Of Hoboken. You play Crimson Tape with the ability to make organizational charts. Others in the league Madamoiselle Pepperoni- who can tell what toppings are on a pizza without opening the box Iron Tummy- can eat spicy foods without distress Robomop- can clean almost any mess Tropical Oil Man- can increase opponent’s cholesterol levels. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/24 "2004-06-02T02:47:14Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Saturn Girl- telepathy > Cosmic Boy- magnetic powers > Chameleon Boy-shapechanging > Polar Boy- (originally a member of the substitutes) can project cold > Dream Girl- prescience (her sister was born without this racial ability and compensated by learning magic and joining as the White Witch) > The already mentioned Matter Eater Lad- the ability to safely eat and digest nearly anything. All Bismolians have the same ability. > > I’m sure there are plenty of others. Element Lad His race can turn any element into any other. I can’t remember the explaination, but he his his power for a long time because it tended to attract unsavoury sorts. Superboy Mon-El/Valor/M’onel All Kryptonians and Daxamites have the same set of superpowers (under optimal conditions, anyway.) ---
**Author:** ![xvxdarkknightxvx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/34f0e0/32.png) [@xvxdarkknightxvx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xvxdarkknightxvx)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/25 "2004-06-02T03:59:44Z")
I like how Marvel gave Nightcrawler the ability to turn invisible when in shadows. Of course, they never used it for anything, but it’s there. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/26 "2004-06-02T04:06:33Z")
> [@](#): > > I like how Marvel gave Nightcrawler the ability to turn invisible when in shadows. Of course, they never used it for anything, but it’s there. If the shadows are deep and dark enough _I’m_ invisible in shadows! ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/27 "2004-06-02T04:09:45Z")
Since my name has been invoked, I’ll put in my Legion expertise. Legionnaires (pre-5 year gap, to reduce confusion) who come from planets where everyone has the same powers they do: (\* indicates sole or near-sole survivor of planet, which means they are something unique) Cosmic Boy Saturn Girl Phantom Girl Triplicate Girl (later known as Duo Damsel, who’s actually _weaker_ than her fellow Cargggites!) Chameleon Boy Supergirl\* Brainiac 5 (all Coluans are more intelligent than humans, though Brainiac 5 is exceptional even by their standards) Superboy\* Mon-El\* Matter-Eater Lad Element Lad\* Dream Girl Karate Kid (theoretically) Dawnstar Blok\* Magnetic Kid Polar Boy Tellus Quislet Tengu: > [@](#): > > I can’t remember the explaination, but Element Lad hid his power for a long time because it tended to attract unsavoury sorts. That was only during his first appearance story. A space pirate named Roxxas killed all the other element-transmuting natives of his planet, and was looking for him, the last survivor. He joined the Legion but kept his powers vague because if Roxxas heard that a Legionnaire could transmute elements, he’d figure out who he was. By the end of that issue, the Legion had captured Roxxas and “Mystery Lad” officially re-named himself “Element Lad.” All that, in a single 13-page story. How many issues would they stretch out that plot to today? ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/28 "2004-06-02T04:13:30Z")
Oops, forgot - Shrinking Violet belongs on the above list as well. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/29 "2004-06-02T04:16:31Z")
Just to compare numbers, here’s the list of Legionnaires whose powers are not shared by others from their home planet: Lightning Lad Colossal Boy Invisible Kid I Star Boy Sun Boy Ultra Boy Bouncing Boy Lightning Lass/Light Lass Ferro Lad Princess Projectra/Sensor Girl Shadow Lass Timber Wolf Chemical King Wildfire Tyroc Invisible Kid II So the tally is 20 common, 16 special. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/30 "2004-06-02T14:38:25Z")
Oops - White Witch belongs in that second list. So it’s 20-17. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/31 "2004-06-02T22:44:44Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > By the end of that issue, the Legion had captured Roxxas and “Mystery Lad” officially re-named himself “Element Lad.” > > All that, in a single 13-page story. How many issues would they stretch out that plot to today? Really? I’d thought he’d only actually revealed it to the Legion at the end but they vowed to keep it quiet, and he kept the Mystery Lad name for a while after that. But it’s been better than 15 years since I last read that story. I wonder if I still have it. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/32 "2004-06-02T22:55:01Z")
While we’re on the topic of the Legion, how did Ultra Boy pick up the Kryptonian/Daxamite power set, and his odd little limitation (only use one at a time). And how did he get through the ‘One Member With a Given Power’ rule, when there were already Superboy and Mon-El with the same powerset? … For that matter, how did Superboy and Mon-El both get there…? ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/33 "2004-06-02T23:04:32Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > But [this](http://www.mactyre.net/scm/deejay/champs/characters/legion/matter_eater_lad.html) RPG site lists “Doesn’t Need To Excrete” as one of his special abilities. You’re misreading that character sheet. “Doesn’t need to Eat/Excrete/Sleep” is a standard 5-point variant of Life Support under the 4th Edition HERO System rules. You cannot buy “doesn’t need to eat,” “doesn’t need to excrete”, and “doesn’t need to sleep” separately. So, what the author of this character sheet did was buy “Doesn’t Need to Eat/Excrete/Sleep” for 5 base points, and then applied “Doesn’t Eat Only” to this power as a **-1/2 Limitation**. (He also applied “Needs Matter” to this power as an additional -1/2 Limitation.) This means that the “Excrete” and “Sleep” attributes of this particular form of Life Support power do not apply to the character. The **only** thing this Life Support power now gives him is the ability to go without eating normal food; and he still has to have some form of matter to chomp on in order to keep from starving. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/34 "2004-06-02T23:05:39Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Just to compare numbers, here’s the list of Legionnaires whose powers are not shared by others from their home planet: You left out all the Legionnaires who have super powers and whose native planet is Earth. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/35 "2004-06-02T23:10:57Z")
Tengu: > [@](#): > > Really? I’d thought he’d only actually revealed it to the Legion at the end but they vowed to keep it quiet, and he kept the Mystery Lad name for a while after that. Nope. > [@](#): > > While we’re on the topic of the Legion, how did Ultra Boy pick up the Kryptonian/Daxamite power set, and his odd little limitation (only use one at a time). He got the power by being swallowed by a giant “space whale” (his name, you might recall, is Jo Nah), which was later referred to as an “Ultra-Energy Beast.” In comic-book science, it was explained that he absorbed the beast’s ultra-energy into his body, and has the ability to focus the energy for achieving a variety of superhuman feats, but since he needs to focus it, he effectively needs to use only one power at a time. > [@](#): > > And how did he get through the ‘One Member With a Given Power’ rule, when there were already Superboy and Mon-El with the same powerset? Well, Mon-El didn’t join until after he did. In any case, the answer would still be the same: his “unique power” is that his penetra-vision can see through lead, unlike the X-Ray vision of Kryptonians or Daxamites. > [@](#): > > … For that matter, how did Superboy and Mon-El both get there…? Superboy (and, for that matter, Supergirl) were only part-time members, so Mon-El was allowed to join as a full-time member with essentially the same power. And his ability to use more than one of his powers at the same time got him in despite Ultra Boy’s presence. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/36 "2004-06-02T23:39:28Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > He got the power by being swallowed by a giant “space whale” (his name, you might recall, is Jo Nah), which was later referred to as an “Ultra-Energy Beast.” Aaaaah. That name makes more sense now. > [@](#): > > Well, Mon-El didn’t join until after he did. In any case, the answer would still be the same: his “unique power” is that his penetra-vision can see through lead, unlike the X-Ray vision of Kryptonians or Daxamites. Oops. I did know UB came first, but I’d forgotten it. I didn’t know UB could see through lead, though. Never came up in any of the stories I read. You’d think it would, though. Supes and Mon-El/Valor used their X-Ray vision a LOT, you’d think the more useful version would pop up every so often. > [@](#): > > Superboy (and, for that matter, Supergirl) were only part-time members, so Mon-El was allowed to join as a full-time member with essentially the same power. And his ability to use more than one of his powers at the same time got him in despite Ultra Boy’s presence. Mmm. Both make sense. Seem rather weaselly, but the kind of weaselling I can actually see when you’ve painted yourself into an illogical and inconvenient corner, as the Legion had. (I seem to remember a One Representative Per Planet rule at some point, too…although that one got bent/discarded, too.) ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/37 "2004-06-03T00:05:09Z")
Tracer: > [@](#): > > You left out all the Legionnaires who have super powers and whose native planet is Earth. No I didn’t. Colossal Boy, Invisible Kid I and II, Sun Boy, Bouncing Boy, Ferro Lad, Wildfire and Tyroc were all listed. (I focused on the pre-Crisis roster. Once you get into all the retcons, you start confusing people needlessly). tengu: > [@](#): > > Never came up in any of the stories I read. Definitely did come up a few times, though. > [@](#): > > (I seem to remember a One Representative Per Planet rule at some point, too…although that one got bent/discarded, too.) That was during the post-boot period, when the Legion was acting as a symbol of the United Planets, and the U.P., for political considerations, didn’t allow more that one representative per planet. When they exposed the U.P. President as having triggered a war to aid her political goals, R.J. Brande became U. P. President and let them make their own rules, and they abolished that one. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/38 "2004-06-03T00:11:13Z")
> [@tracer](#): > > You’re misreading that character sheet. > > “Doesn’t need to Eat/Excrete/Sleep” is a standard 5-point variant of Life Support under the 4th Edition HERO System rules. You cannot buy “doesn’t need to eat,” “doesn’t need to excrete”, and “doesn’t need to sleep” separately. So, what the author of this character sheet did was buy “Doesn’t Need to Eat/Excrete/Sleep” for 5 base points, and then applied “Doesn’t Eat Only” to this power as a **-1/2 Limitation**. (He also applied “Needs Matter” to this power as an additional -1/2 Limitation.) > > This means that the “Excrete” and “Sleep” attributes of this particular form of Life Support power do not apply to the character. The **only** thing this Life Support power now gives him is the ability to go without eating normal food; and he still has to have some form of matter to chomp on in order to keep from starving. Oh, I see. Easy mistake to make for someone like me, who never really played many RPGs. I loved reading the manuals, but never really played. I like to think that Matter-Eater Lad DIDN’T poop, and that Bismollian asses served just one purpose – hot, kinky sex. Perhaps Bismollian asses naturally evolved extra lubrication to make anal action even more convenient! ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/39 "2004-06-03T00:30:28Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Well, Mon-El didn’t join until after he did. In any case, the answer would still be the same: his “unique power” is that his penetra-vision can see through lead, unlike the X-Ray vision of Kryptonians or Daxamites. Wasn’t there a period, say the Conway Legions or just afterwards (SatLoSH #275 or so) where they said that each of Ultra-Boy’s powers were greater than Superboy or Mon-El’s? (the specific example I remember was something about him being “more invulnerable” than Superboy–something that would have killed Superboy just…um…sent Ultra-Boy into the past or made him an amnesiac space-pirate or something…I just vaguely remember it.) Ignoring the “space-pirate” bit, I actually kind of like the idea that he’s a notch or two stronger/faster/tougher, etc than Superboy/Mon El, but since he’s not as versatile, he can’t _quite_ compete. I don’t think that idea was ever followed up on after that arc, though. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/40 "2004-06-03T00:58:35Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > That was during the post-boot period, when the Legion was acting as a symbol of the United Planets, and the U.P., for political considerations, didn’t allow more that one representative per planet. When they exposed the U.P. President as having triggered a war to aid her political goals, R.J. Brande became U. P. President and let them make their own rules, and they abolished that one. Figured it might have been, since the storyline I remember it coming up in was definitely from the reboot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951.md?page=3)