# What's the dorkiest prop used by any superhero or superheroine? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** comic-books-manga\ **Created:** [March 15, 2007, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dorkiest-prop-used-by-any-superhero-or-superheroine/395990 "2007-03-15T02:49:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dorkiest-prop-used-by-any-superhero-or-superheroine/395990/21 "2007-03-15T16:10:54Z")
[QUOTE=Smitty] How about [Rainbow Raider](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Raider)? I don’t know whether to make a gay joke or a Care Bears joke. [/QUOTE] He also had one of the lamest villain motivations: he turned to evil because he’s _colorblind._ ---
**Author:** ![Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Licentious_Ectomorph)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dorkiest-prop-used-by-any-superhero-or-superheroine/395990/22 "2007-03-15T16:14:52Z")
I nominate the original [Red Bee](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Bee_%28comics%29), whose gimmick was “trained bees” that he kept in his belt buckle. At least his niece, the new Red Bee, is a little cooler. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dorkiest-prop-used-by-any-superhero-or-superheroine/395990/23 "2007-03-15T16:36:25Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] So you have all the disadvantages of invisibility (can’t remember where you left the thing, have to feel for the cockpit. Can’t read the instruments. all the stuff they make fun of in Spongebob squarepants and elsewhere), and none of the advantages. [/QUOTE] Yes, but on the other hand, it’s fun when she changes her clothes in the cockpit. Thanks to MAD magazine for that. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dorkiest-prop-used-by-any-superhero-or-superheroine/395990/24 "2007-03-15T16:41:52Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] How about **Herby’s** lollipop (from the ACG – American Comics Group – comic) [/QUOTE] Same guy, in or out of costume. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dorkiest-prop-used-by-any-superhero-or-superheroine/395990/25 "2007-03-15T17:33:54Z")
[QUOTE=Evil Captor] I’m voting for Wonder Woman’s invisible jet. Especially when it was drawn as a series of dotted lines with Wonder Woman’s figure perched in the middle of it. Incredibly silly-looking. [/QUOTE] Seeing Ian McKelland wearing a purple “M” on his head during X-Men 3 (I didn’t bother with the first two) did nothing towards suspending the disbelief… or the guffaws. Yeah, it wasn’t a prop… but God, it _was_ dorky. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dorkiest-prop-used-by-any-superhero-or-superheroine/395990/26 "2007-03-15T17:50:26Z")
> [@](#): > > The Supermobile. Supermobiles, actually. When I was a kid watching SuperFriends, I always hated Superman cause he was such a selfish bastard. If he really cared about saving the planet he would have let Batman, or Aquaman just drive the Supermobile daily , since it had pretty much the power of Superman. Then they would have been a hell of a lot more powerful. But noooooooooo, the glory seeking son of a bitch kept it in the Supergarage until he lost his own powers(which seemed to happen on a very frequent basis, You’d think an omnipotent guy would smell a trap coming every now and then) and he needed it. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dorkiest-prop-used-by-any-superhero-or-superheroine/395990/27 "2007-03-15T18:08:48Z")
[QUOTE=Licentious Ectomorph] I nominate the original [Red Bee](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Bee_%28comics%29), whose gimmick was “trained bees” that he kept in his belt buckle. [/QUOTE] _shakes fist_ Curse you, **Licentious Ectomorph** , and your quick-posting wit! I’ll have to fall back on the original Red Tornado – and her stew pot. That she cut eyeholes out of, and wore on her head. And which she still has, and uses to cook stew in. No idea why the stew doesn’t just run out the eyeholes, though. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dorkiest-prop-used-by-any-superhero-or-superheroine/395990/28 "2007-03-15T18:22:12Z")
A shovel. _The Mystery Men_, starring William H. Macy as The Shoveller. He was a superhero who had no superpowers, and carried a shovel as his prop. Pic: [http://www.cinemablend.com/images/news\_img/2545/2545.jpg](http://www.cinemablend.com/images/news_img/2545/2545.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dorkiest-prop-used-by-any-superhero-or-superheroine/395990/29 "2007-03-15T18:25:25Z")
Bat Shark Repellant Spray. Or… remembering from the TV show, Bat Alphabet Soup Container (on his utility belt, Damn, he must have been so happy to finally use that thing, after carrying it around for years). ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dorkiest-prop-used-by-any-superhero-or-superheroine/395990/30 "2007-03-15T18:32:19Z")
I’d like to nominate the [Silver Surfer’s surfboard.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_surfer) Oh, sorry, “surfboard-like vehicle.” It’s no invisible jet or stew-pot helmet, but it is a surfboard as a spaceship. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dorkiest-prop-used-by-any-superhero-or-superheroine/395990/31 "2007-03-15T18:38:18Z")
[QUOTE=Muffin] _The Mystery Men_, starring William H. Macy as The Shoveller. [/QUOTE] “I shovel well. I shovel very well.” You sure you want to go with the shovel and not the silverware? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Hildo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@Johnny\_Hildo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Hildo)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dorkiest-prop-used-by-any-superhero-or-superheroine/395990/32 "2007-03-15T18:48:02Z")
Dorkiest? I don’t know. But creepiest subtext? Definitely [Fisto’s conversation piece](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisto) in _He-Man and the Masters of the Universe_. I can’t help but think that Goatse knew that guy. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dorkiest-prop-used-by-any-superhero-or-superheroine/395990/33 "2007-03-15T19:29:31Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] I’d like to nominate the [Silver Surfer’s surfboard.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_surfer) Oh, sorry, “surfboard-like vehicle.” It’s no invisible jet or stew-pot helmet, but it is a surfboard as a spaceship. [/QUOTE] It’s not as bad as the Black Racer’s skis. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dorkiest-prop-used-by-any-superhero-or-superheroine/395990/34 "2007-03-15T20:11:36Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] I’d like to nominate the [Silver Surfer’s surfboard.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_surfer) Oh, sorry, “surfboard-like vehicle.” It’s no invisible jet or stew-pot helmet, but it is a surfboard as a spaceship. [/QUOTE] After seeing the most recent Silver Surfer trailer, my main reaction is “OMG, I want one!”. Not dorky. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dorkiest-prop-used-by-any-superhero-or-superheroine/395990/35 "2007-03-15T20:12:02Z")
[QUOTE=BayleDomon] “I shovel well. I shovel very well.” You sure you want to go with the shovel and not the silverware? [/QUOTE] The Shoveller: You’re the master of cutlery. You can’t throw a knife sometimes when someone’s trying to kill me? The Blue Raja: No, I can’t. You can’t use a rake sometimes? The Shoveller: No, I’m the Shoveller. The Blue Raja: Well, I’m the Blue Raja. I’m not Stab Man. I’m not Knifey Boy. I’m the Blue Raja. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingDragonFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@FlyingDragonFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingDragonFan)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dorkiest-prop-used-by-any-superhero-or-superheroine/395990/36 "2007-03-15T20:40:28Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] So you have all the disadvantages of invisibility (can’t remember where you left the thing, have to feel for the cockpit. Can’t read the instruments. all the stuff they make fun of in Spongebob squarepants and elsewhere), and none of the advantages. Pretty useless. and dorky. [/QUOTE] Scroll down a ways for Seanbaby’s [take](http://www.seanbaby.com/superfriends/wonderwomanb.htm) on it. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dorkiest-prop-used-by-any-superhero-or-superheroine/395990/37 "2007-03-15T20:55:36Z")
[QUOTE=Licentious Ectomorph] I nominate the original [Red Bee](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Bee_%28comics%29), whose gimmick was “trained bees” that he kept in his belt buckle. [/QUOTE] I don’t see what’s so dorky about that. Where was he supposed to store his trained bees? ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dorkiest-prop-used-by-any-superhero-or-superheroine/395990/38 "2007-03-15T21:15:16Z")
I have a friend who writes a comic with a character with a superpowerful penis. Who smites villians with his phallus spear. I’d say that was pretty dorky. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dorkiest-prop-used-by-any-superhero-or-superheroine/395990/39 "2007-03-15T21:22:30Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] Wonder Woman was created by William Moulton Marston and his wife. Marston is the inventor of the **polygraph** “lie detector”. it’s not surprising that she had a lie-detecting weapon. I’ll bet it was a lot more reliable than Marston’s real-life polygraph. [/quote] But why a **lasso?** Answer: [Marston was into bondage.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Moulton_Marston#Themes) ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dorkiest-prop-used-by-any-superhero-or-superheroine/395990/40 "2007-03-15T21:34:55Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] I don’t see what’s so dorky about that. Where was he supposed to store his trained bees? [/QUOTE] Have you never heard of a bonnet? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dorkiest-prop-used-by-any-superhero-or-superheroine/395990.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dorkiest-prop-used-by-any-superhero-or-superheroine/395990.md?page=3)