# What superheroes COULDN'T defeat a...Polar Bear? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 2, 2006, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-superheroes-couldnt-defeat-a-polar-bear/350908 "2006-04-02T03:23:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-superheroes-couldnt-defeat-a-polar-bear/350908/61 "2006-04-03T17:47:54Z")
Well, dunno what superhero _couldn’t_ wrestle a polar bear…but I know for a fact that the Black Panther could. That’s 'cuz in “the Mighty Avengers” [#169](http://www.geocities.com/jshayer/comics/avg_170.htm), the Black Panther wrestles…a polar bear! (Can’t find a larger image of the cover, but believe me, there’s a polar bear lunging at T’Challa on it). ---
**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:** [April 3, 2006, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-superheroes-couldnt-defeat-a-polar-bear/350908/62 "2006-04-03T18:18:41Z")
[QUOTE=Art Vandelay, Architect] Well, dunno what superhero _couldn’t_ wrestle a polar bear…but I know for a fact that the Black Panther could. That’s 'cuz in “the Mighty Avengers” [#169](http://www.geocities.com/jshayer/comics/avg_170.htm), the Black Panther wrestles…a polar bear! (Can’t find a larger image of the cover, but believe me, there’s a polar bear lunging at T’Challa on it). [/QUOTE] Obviously a mutant polar bear with human intelligence, intent on defeating T’Challa and gaining control of Wakanda’s priceless vibranium! ---
**Author:** ![Scupper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Scupper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scupper)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-superheroes-couldnt-defeat-a-polar-bear/350908/63 "2006-04-03T18:23:20Z")
Depends on your definition of “super,” I guess, but these guys would have some problems, I think: The Riddler The Joker The Penguin The Kingpin (maybe – I’m not sure how well judo works against bears) Two-Face Catwoman Shadowcat Nightcrawler Angel (maybe he could find something really big to drop on it) John Constantine Scarecrow (unless his gas works on animals) Robin Iron Fist Lex Luthor ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-superheroes-couldnt-defeat-a-polar-bear/350908/64 "2006-04-03T18:30:56Z")
[QUOTE=Scupper] Shadowcat [/quote] Phases bear into ground and leaves it there; instant death. [QUOTE=Scupper] Nightcrawler [/quote] Hops onto bear and grabs head, then teleports away with it; instant death. [QUOTE=Scupper] Iron Fist [/quote] :eek: Summons Iron Fist and SPLAT ! ! Bear bits _everywhere !_ [QUOTE=Scupper] Lex Luthor [/QUOTE] Doesn’t he normally have a gun of some sort ? ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-superheroes-couldnt-defeat-a-polar-bear/350908/65 "2006-04-03T19:38:09Z")
I’m surprised nobody’s mentioned [Frog-Man](http://www.spiderfan.org/characters/frog_man.html) or the [Spectacular Spider-Kid.](http://www.spiderfan.org/cgi-bin/cover.pl?80123,spiderman_amazing,263.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-superheroes-couldnt-defeat-a-polar-bear/350908/66 "2006-04-03T19:39:06Z")
I would like to point out that only one hero I’m aware has actually done what the OP suggests. Doc Savage killed a polar bear with one punch then tore steaks out of his hide with his bare hands! No super-powers. Batman’s a pussy next to Doc. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-superheroes-couldnt-defeat-a-polar-bear/350908/67 "2006-04-03T19:53:44Z")
What about Bishop? Ooo, he can absorb energy…not very useful when there are huge claws in your guts. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-superheroes-couldnt-defeat-a-polar-bear/350908/68 "2006-04-03T20:29:21Z")
Okay, we did specify earlier that normal equipment is allowed, right? [QUOTE=Scupper] The Riddler [/quote] Stalemate. The bear can’t solve riddles, and would never find him in the first place. 😉 > [@](#): > > The Penguin Oh, you know he has a contingency plan against all cold-weather animals. Yes, I’m aware that penguins are antarctic, still, it fits. Besides, some of his umbrellas are bretty nasty. > [@](#): > > Robin Same as Batman really. Belt full of knives, drugged up darts, explosives, pepper spray, etc. Enough to send a bear packing, if not kill it. > [@](#): > > Lex Luthor In a buisness suit? No. In a Kryptonite powered battle suit? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-superheroes-couldnt-defeat-a-polar-bear/350908/69 "2006-04-03T23:43:54Z")
While (almost) any superhero _can_ tote around high-powered firearms, most don’t. And the OP restricted us to a superhero’s normal gear. So we’re allowed to say the Punisher gives _U. horibillis_ an acute case of lead poisoning, but we’re not allowed to say that Batman does the same thing (though the Bat probably does have other equipment which would do the job). On the “you’re not a real super unless…” criterion, I think we ought to also make an exemption for specificity. Someone like Mimic (or was he called “The Bus that Couldn’t Slow Down”?) whose powers involve interaction with the powers of others can be quite formidable, in the right circumstances, but a fight with a wild animal just happens to not be one of those circumstances. He could, however, beat most of the folks who can beat a polar bear (or at least, give them a good run for their money). ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-superheroes-couldnt-defeat-a-polar-bear/350908/70 "2006-04-04T02:37:20Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] On the “you’re not a real super unless…” criterion, I think we ought to also make an exemption for specificity. Someone like Mimic (or was he called “The Bus that Couldn’t Slow Down”?) whose powers involve interaction with the powers of others can be quite formidable, in the right circumstances, but a fight with a wild animal just happens to not be one of those circumstances. He could, however, beat most of the folks who can beat a polar bear (or at least, give them a good run for their money). [/QUOTE] Actually, not to continue busting your hump over the whole Mimic thing, the original Mimic ended up permanently mimicking the powers of the five original X-men. So in that incarnation he could easily take down a polar bear. Telekinetically hold the bear in place a la Marvel Girl and then use Cyclops’s optic blast to take its head off. I don’t know how current the [Mimic (Exiles)](http://www.marveldirectory.com/individuals/m/mimicexiles.htm) information is but if the linked entry is still correct he’d still be more than a match for the bear. He’s got half of Northstar’s speed, is half as strong as Colossus, has half-power optic blasts and a half-strength healing factor. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-superheroes-couldnt-defeat-a-polar-bear/350908.md?page=3)