# 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:** 3
**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, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/41 "2004-06-03T01:01:44Z")
Fenris: > [@](#): > > 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.) I don’t recall them saying that his power was greater than the corresponding power of Superboy or Mon-El (except, as mentioned, for the vision powers), merely that his invulnerability works differently. I interpreted it to mean that his “invulnerability” was something like the way Green Lantern rings are programmed to protect their wearers, to work whichever way it can adapt to tthe situation. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/42 "2004-06-03T03:02:42Z")
Speaking of underappreciated powers… What about Wonder Woman’s ability to cloud men’s minds? ---
**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 3, 2004, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/43 "2004-06-03T03:22:14Z")
Actually, a similar power is used by one of the Body Doubles in their New Year’s Evil oneshot. Merlin the archer is about to kill Bonnie (or is it Carmen? Whichever one is the darkhaired pornstar). She says she wants to tell him something before she dies, runs her tongue over her lips, and shows him her breasts. This causes Merlin to drop his guard, and Bonnie is able to punch him and escape. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/44 "2004-06-03T08:10:55Z")
The Invisible Girl, err, I mean Woman was always my fav. They never fully showed her potential until she became Malice. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/45 "2004-06-03T14:06:31Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > Speaking of underappreciated powers… What about Wonder Woman’s ability to cloud men’s minds? That’s not so impressive. Any buxom woman in an outfit like that could cloud men’s minds. ---
**Author:** ![International\_Playboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/48db29/32.png) [@International\_Playboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/International_Playboy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/46 "2004-06-03T15:40:12Z")
When I was reading Legion type stories, I took a liking to **Erg**. The Legion wouldn’t let him join as he refused to demonstrate his special power. Finally, to save the Legionaires, he used it, which consisted of removing his face shield and focusing all his energy at his target. The reason he refused to demonstrate it before then is that he didn’t exist in form anymore after that. Seems he was just energy in some sort of containment suit. IIRC, about a year or so later, he finally gathered all his particles together and created a body again. ---
**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, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/47 "2004-06-03T15:52:48Z")
That would be the Legionnaire better known as Wildfire. He got better at keeping his energy together, but still needed the containment suit. In 1987-89, he was able to dispense with the suit briefly, but that wasn’t permanent either. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/48 "2004-06-03T16:27:34Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > 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. I remember a one-off comment by one Legionnaire about the Daxamite / Kryptonian issue. S/he said something like ‘do you want to tell them they’re not allowed in?’ Although they did punk Superboy before letting him join. I’ve always been curious about TimberWolf’s unique power. Was it agility? He wasn’t as strong as Mon-El/Superboy (“M/S”) or even presumably Colossal Boy. He wasn’t as invulnerable as M/S. He wasn’t as fast, and couldn’t fly. He wasn’t as good in HtH as Karate Kid. What was his qualifier? ---
**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, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/49 "2004-06-03T16:31:43Z")
It was the agility and acrobatic talent. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/50 "2004-06-03T17:00:08Z")
So if Nadia Commenici or Olga Korbett showed up before Brin Londo, he would have been out of luck, I guess ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/51 "2004-06-03T17:02:15Z")
I thought Timberwolf had an advanced sense of smell/tracking ability? am I wrong? ---
**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 3, 2004, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/52 "2004-06-03T17:15:19Z")
> [@ouryL](#): > > The Invisible Girl, err, I mean Woman was always my fav. > They never fully showed her potential until she became Malice. In Infinity War, Sue Storm shows she’s much more powerful than most folks think. She uses one of her force fields to contain the explosion of a gamma bomb. ---
**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, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/53 "2004-06-03T17:51:48Z")
D\_Odds: > [@](#): > > So if Nadia Commenici or Olga Korbett showed up before Brin Londo, he would have been out of luck, I guess Perfect tens? Heck, Timber Wolf is a _super_-acrobat. He could get elevens from the judges. Candid Gamera: > [@](#): > > I thought Timberwolf had an advanced sense of smell/tracking ability? am I wrong? While I do recall seeing him act that way in a few stories, I haven’t seen those mentioned in any of the “official” references. But I’m open to revising my view on that. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/54 "2004-06-03T18:20:03Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > 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) > … > Mon-El\* > … > Quislet Mon-El was a (near) sole survivor? I thought that Daxam was fully populated in the pre-boot. Wasn’t there something unique about Quislet that allowed him come to our univierse in his little ship that was different from the other of his species? BTW, It looks like we may be in for another reboot of the Legion. ---
**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, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/55 "2004-06-03T19:34:50Z")
Sir Prize: > [@](#): > > Mon-El was a (near) sole survivor? I thought that Daxam was fully populated in the pre-boot. True, but he was the only one who ha the anti-lead-poisoning serum, so for all intents and purposes, I treated him as such. > [@](#): > > Wasn’t there something unique about Quislet that allowed him come to our univierse in his little ship that was different from the other of his species? Only that he was more independent of the hive-mind than others. But in physical ability, all of them could do what he did. I see him as the equivalent of Karate Kid amongst Earthlings. > [@](#): > > BTW, It looks like we may be in for another reboot of the Legion. I think it’s more of a marketing re-launch than a continuity re-boot. ---
**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 3, 2004, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/56 "2004-06-03T23:29:53Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > In Infinity War, Sue Storm shows she’s much more powerful than most folks think. She uses one of her force fields to contain the explosion of a gamma bomb. What?! That dirty good-for-nothing … she prevented everyone within the blast radius from gaining the powers of the Hulk! :mad: ---
**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 4, 2004, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/57 "2004-06-04T07:06:36Z")
Well maybe, or they could’ve gained the powers of the Leader, the Abomination, Half Life, the Harpy or considering that they were from 0 feet to 50 feet away from the bomb, all the powers of a radioactive cloud. ---
**Author:** ![International\_Playboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/48db29/32.png) [@International\_Playboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/International_Playboy)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/58 "2004-06-04T11:51:56Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > That would be the Legionnaire better known as Wildfire. He got better at keeping his energy together, but still needed the containment suit. > > In 1987-89, he was able to dispense with the suit briefly, but that wasn’t permanent either. I seem to recall now reading a comic a few years ago that had a guest appearance by the Legionaires. I remember now, about making the Wildfire/Erg connection back then. Thanks for the reminder, I have only read that and the two original Erg stories, but for some reason, I found him cool when I read his debut. Much better name with “Wildfire.” “Erg,” sounds like a Conehead’s cousin or something. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/59 "2004-06-04T16:39:43Z")
ERG = Energy Release Generator, the name of the suit. It was built originally to help its designer handle radiation therapy for advanced cancer that was beyond 30th century medical science. But Drake screwed up and blew himself up. He needed the suit just a little more, being nothing but sentient energy and all. ---
**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:** [June 5, 2004, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951/60 "2004-06-05T07:59:48Z")
On the Teen Titans cartoon a few weeks back, Cyborg revealed one of the most practical super powers (well…super “features,” more like it) I’ve ever seen. A little retractible spotlight, built into his shoulder. Heck, that’d be even _more_ usefull than true nightvision, in quite a few occasions. You can light things up for _other_ people. Plus, he doesn’t really have to worry about having fresh batteries in the thing. (If his onboard power supply is enough to run a _person_ for an indefinate period of time, a little lightbulb should be no problem at all.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underappreciated-superheroes-powers-appreciation-thread/247951.md?page=4)