# Wanted. Historical figures i can plausibly attribute superpowers too. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 2, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-historical-figures-i-can-plausibly-attribute-superpowers-too/466195 "2008-10-02T16:54:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![ushimitsudoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@ushimitsudoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ushimitsudoki)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-historical-figures-i-can-plausibly-attribute-superpowers-too/466195/101 "2008-10-07T04:00:36Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > How about Led Zeppelin as a rocking super-group. Tons of charisma, and super-sonic powers. Jimmy Page blasting out killer riffs on his magical guitar that is actually “The Hammer of the Gods”, Bonzo with the mystic drumsticks, Jones with the bass that triumphs over evil, and Plant with vocal blasts sorta like Marvel’s Dazzler–but cool. > > Or Jimi Hendrix…similar to Page with the uber-guitar, with maybe a 1% chance of sucessfully casting “Summon Cylon” by accident… Greatest Hits does this for the Beatles. [Comics | DC](http://www.dccomics.com/comics/?cm=10240) ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-historical-figures-i-can-plausibly-attribute-superpowers-too/466195/102 "2008-10-07T04:21:24Z")
Three pages and nobody has nominated Cecil yet? For shame, guys! ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-historical-figures-i-can-plausibly-attribute-superpowers-too/466195/103 "2008-10-07T05:19:18Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > How about Led Zeppelin as a rocking super-group. Tons of charisma, and super-sonic powers. Jimmy Page blasting out killer riffs on his magical guitar that is actually “The Hammer of the Gods”, Bonzo with the mystic drumsticks, Jones with the bass that triumphs over evil, and Plant with vocal blasts sorta like Marvel’s Dazzler–but cool. > > Or Jimi Hendrix…similar to Page with the uber-guitar, with maybe a 1% chance of sucessfully casting “Summon Cylon” by accident… This sort of thing has been done, only with [Hawkwind](http://www.amazon.com/Time-Hawklords-Michael-Butterworth/dp/189652205X). The book could charitably be described as “utterly godawful.” ---
**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:** [October 8, 2008, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-historical-figures-i-can-plausibly-attribute-superpowers-too/466195/104 "2008-10-08T10:19:22Z")
'nother one, kinda… [Voytek the Soldier Bear](http://www.badassoftheweek.com/voytek.html). Yeah, sure, like he _wasn’t_ either a Werebear or an example of an _Ursus Sapiens_. 😃 The rest of [the list on that site](http://www.badassoftheweek.com/list.html) might be of some use, too, at least for a basis for further research. One fellow is said to have fought a battle while _carrying his own severed head_. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-historical-figures-i-can-plausibly-attribute-superpowers-too/466195/105 "2008-10-08T17:50:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Eccentric until the end, Churchill would toss his briefcase out of the window of the commuter train he rode home every day. Passengers and conductors were shocked because they did not know he was throwing the luggage into his own backyard as the train passed by. It saved him the trouble of carrying it all the way home I love it! I haven’t seen any props for **Joan of Arc** [Otto Rahn](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/05/22/sv_rahn125.xml&CMP=ILC-mostviewedbox) is considered the Original Indiana Jones. [Jack Lucas, Medal of Honor Recipient](http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977362277&grpId=3659174697247115&nav=Groupspace) **Stephen Hawkins** and **Keith Richards** need some kind of mention. [Hedy Lamarr](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedy_Lamarr) ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-historical-figures-i-can-plausibly-attribute-superpowers-too/466195/106 "2008-10-08T18:00:20Z")
How about Typhoid Mary? ---
**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:** [October 8, 2008, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-historical-figures-i-can-plausibly-attribute-superpowers-too/466195/107 "2008-10-08T18:05:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Otto Rahn is considered the Original Indiana Jones. **Otto Rahn**? I’d heard it was **Roy Chaoman Andrews** > **[Roy Chapman Andrews](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Chapman_Andrews)** > > Roy Chapman Andrews (January 26, 1884 – March 11, 1960) was an American explorer, adventurer, and naturalist who became the director of the American Museum of Natural History. He led a series of expeditions through the politically disturbed China of the early 20th century into the Gobi Desert and Mongolia. The expeditions made important discoveries and brought the first-known fossil dinosaur eggs to the museum. Chapman's popular writing about his adventures made him famous. > Andrews was born on... > **[Roy Chapman Andrews Society](https://roychapmanandrewssociety.org/)** > > The Roy Chapman Andrews Society was formed in 1999 by a group of Beloit, Wisconsin residents intent on building more awareness of one of the 20th Century’s most famous explorers. Of course, tthe REAL model for Indiana was Donald Duck, but my Teemings page seems to have vanished. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-historical-figures-i-can-plausibly-attribute-superpowers-too/466195/108 "2008-10-08T18:19:58Z")
[Red Grange](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Grange), the Galloping Ghost: super-speed and a limited ability to turn incorporeal. ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-historical-figures-i-can-plausibly-attribute-superpowers-too/466195/109 "2008-10-08T18:23:54Z")
In any super-hero world, there are the poor souls stuck with the really stupid super-powers. I give you…[Le Petomane.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Petomane) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-historical-figures-i-can-plausibly-attribute-superpowers-too/466195/110 "2008-10-08T18:30:39Z")
> [@BMax](#): > > A few more suggestions: > [Nikola Tesla](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikola_Tesla), Eastern-european born scientist/wizard, “father of modern electronics” An electronics-oriented technopath who lost much of his ability after his nervious breakdown. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-historical-figures-i-can-plausibly-attribute-superpowers-too/466195/111 "2008-10-08T19:34:00Z")
> [@ArizonaTeach](#): > > In any super-hero world, there are the poor souls stuck with the really stupid super-powers. > > I give you…[Le Petomane.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Petomane) Hey, if I could make that much money, and please so many people, by farting I’d be thrilled! It may have been a really stupid super-power, but Le Petomane was a genius. ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-historical-figures-i-can-plausibly-attribute-superpowers-too/466195/112 "2008-10-08T19:44:40Z")
> [@OtakuLoki](#): > > Hey, if I could make that much money, and please so many people, by farting I’d be thrilled! It may have been a really stupid super-power, but Le Petomane was a genius. I tend to think most people would go into show-biz…until their uncle gets killed. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-historical-figures-i-can-plausibly-attribute-superpowers-too/466195/113 "2008-10-08T21:19:25Z")
Lou Gehrig: invulnerable to everything, except the disease that carries his name. ---
**Author:** ![Juniper200](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@Juniper200](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Juniper200)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-historical-figures-i-can-plausibly-attribute-superpowers-too/466195/114 "2008-10-09T14:02:06Z")
[Chevalier d’Éon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevalier_d%27Eon): Able to change her sex at will. ---
**Author:** ![RiverRunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/977dab/32.png) [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-historical-figures-i-can-plausibly-attribute-superpowers-too/466195/115 "2008-10-09T14:32:44Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > I haven’t seen any props for **Joan of Arc** Pssst! Check post #2. How about Steve Jobs, what with the whole reality distortion field and all? RR ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-historical-figures-i-can-plausibly-attribute-superpowers-too/466195/116 "2008-10-09T21:42:16Z")
Let me put forward [Elfego Baca](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elfego_Baca) In the Southwest among the Mexican-Americans he was a legend. More than a few called him El Gato because it seemed as if he couldn’t be killed. And more than a few tried. One time when a white cowboy killed a Hispanic and it was clear the sheriff wasn’t going to do anything, Baca borrowed a badge from the sheriff and arrested the cowboy. The cowboy’s friends took umbruge to the arrest and poured 4,000 bullets into a shack to where Baca was forced to retreat and two days later he emerged without a scratch. Another time he stole a pistol from Pancho Villa and Villa put a $30,000 reward out for the head of Baca. No one collected. Another time, after he had been shot a number of times by a guy in hiding, but managed to get two shots off at his dry gulcher, a priest was performing last rites on Baca. Baca interrupted him and told the priest he would be fine, and that priest should do the last rites for the other man. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-historical-figures-i-can-plausibly-attribute-superpowers-too/466195/117 "2008-10-09T21:49:12Z")
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. John Dillinger. Al Capone Elvis Presley ( if he ain’t dead.) ---
**Author:** ![Uchiha\_Ozu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/4da419/32.png) [@Uchiha\_Ozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uchiha_Ozu)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-historical-figures-i-can-plausibly-attribute-superpowers-too/466195/118 "2013-11-20T08:05:31Z")
Annie Oakley: Dead eye Babe Ruth: Strength ---
**Author:** ![NiceGuyJack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/niceguyjack/32/3069_2.png) [@NiceGuyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NiceGuyJack)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-historical-figures-i-can-plausibly-attribute-superpowers-too/466195/119 "2013-11-20T11:03:54Z")
[Ned Kelly](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ned_Kelly) A notorious Australian Bushranger and outlaw. Ned and his gang famously constructed their own bullet proof armour. Which may suggest the super power. ---
**Author:** ![DeptfordX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DeptfordX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeptfordX)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-historical-figures-i-can-plausibly-attribute-superpowers-too/466195/120 "2013-11-20T22:42:14Z")
… and not to rain on anyones parade. Please feel free to continue, but i feel i ought to point out that the RPG campaign that this thread was set up to mine ideas for, and the spin-off campaign (Plus at least one weekend one-shot) that it spawned (with new characters, the old ones becoming the main villians of the new) ended about 2 years ago. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-historical-figures-i-can-plausibly-attribute-superpowers-too/466195.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-historical-figures-i-can-plausibly-attribute-superpowers-too/466195.md?page=7)