We’re all familiar with the phrase above; it’s Spider-Man’s mantra in most every incarnation, his reason for donning the tights. And in theory I’d agree with it, but—
Well, when would it kick in, in the real world?
If I somehow got Spider-Man’s powers in our world, I wouldn’t feel remotely compelled to become a crimefighter, freelance or not; his powerset, useful though it is, just isn’t enough to justify the activty in an organized way. Likewise I wouldn’t feel obliged to do so if I had any of the FF’s powers. On the other hand, if I had Storm’s powers, or Superman’s, I’d definitely feel, “yes, I’m obligated by simple decency to make the world a better place.”
So whose powers would you feel would obligate you to use them for the public weal, if any? Whose powers would make you say, “Nah. I’ll be in my bunk.”
Well, If I had Doug Ramseys powers, I suppose I could do a lot of good for the CIA. Obviously with Supermans powers I could do just about everything. Spider Mans powers would be too much fun not to fight crime with provided I get the organic webshooters and they’re on my wrists (I ain’t wearin no buttflap pants to fight crime).
I think Kitty Prydes phasing powers wouldn’t be that useful as a solo crime fighter, so with those I’d just stay home. Same thing with Matter Eater lads powers. Sure I’d enter competitive eating contests, but that’s not really making the world a better place is it?
I suppose it would depend a lot on whether there were super villains around. I mean, you’d almost have to stand up for truth and democracy against super villains.
Anyway, in the real world it wouldn’t take them much to figure out who you really are. Super heroes bleed all over the place, and if CSI is to be believed, they can scan your DNA from a photograph. There’s pretty much no such thing as a secret identity if you attract any attention at all.
Well, I did specify the real world–that is, your superpowers are the only fantastic element that have been introduced.
For me, as I said, I wouldn’t bother using Spider-Man’s powers in any sort of organized or systematic way: just not enough call for them. Oh, maybe I’d leap around late at night for the sheer fun of it.
I’d use Storm’s powers whenever hurricanes threatened … though, now that I think on it, there would likely be unintended consequences. If I stopped every hurricane from hitting the United States mainland, and kept at it for years, hurricane preparation would go way, way down. There’d be dire consequences after I was dead and no one was magically shielding the nation any more.
If I had Superman or J’onn Jonzz’s powers, I’d have to go public, so CSI wouldn’t be an issue for me.
Hasn’t it been established that super heroes are the reason for super villains?
The problem is in the real world… fighting crime would be frickin’ hard. Where do you look for it? How many banks get robbed in your town? In comics it happens every day.
Terrorist attacks? Thank god we’ve only had one… in comics… Happens all the time.
So low level powers (Spiderman and such) would be like a hobby. You’d use them if they ever came up but they wouldn’t come up that often.
Big powers like Storms well… you can insure that no regions crops ever fail.
Even Superman’s would be hard to find real world uses for… except if you wanted to be a military operative. Send a bullet proof dude with super strength to Iraq… have him just fly around and search for IEDs and blow them up, use x-ray vision to look for insurgents hiding in buildings. Et cetera.
To me, it would depend both on the scale and kind of powers I have. In the real world, most superhero abilities are of limited use. Without supervillains, there really isn’t much Spiderman can do that the cops can’t; the hard part for cops is finding the bad guys, not defeating them ( most of the time ).
On the other hand, I would be obligated to help with low power but exotic powers like a healing touch or precognition. If I’m the only person on the planet who can cure AIDS, I’d feel an obligation to try. If I’m the only one who knows a dam is about to break, I’d at least make a phone call.
With Superman-level powers, there’s no question. With that sort of power in the real world, I can do a great deal of good without much effort at little risk to myself. Imagine how many wars you could avert just by showing up at the aggressor’s palace, ignoring the bodyguards defensive fire, and pinning the local dictator to the wall and telling him you will hold him personally responsible for any act of aggression.
I’d be completely uninterested in fighting crime if I had Kryptonian super-powers, but I could find endless non-military & benevolent uses for them. Mostly I’d work to alleviate famine as much as possible, ensure potable water for impoverished third-world areas, evacuate hurricane and tsunami refugees, et cetera.
Oh, and I’d totally be doing Campbell Brown. If she has a boyfriend/husband/girlfriend/etc. I’d probably have murdered* him/her at invisible super-speed, and then, whilst allowing her to interview me for media relations, I’d slowly and skillfully woo her. No point in being Superman without a Lois. Oh, and I suppose I’d have to murder Kate Couric at invisible super-speed** too, just to make sure Campbell had a position on Today worthy of her.
*Did I mention that super-powers would almost certainly corrupt me in, like, fifteen minutes?
**Better make that “would definitely corrupt me.” Hell, even I don’t think I can be trusted.
For me, I guess, if my powers are too far below the “demigod” level, I might figure that the best way I could help humanity would be by helping science, and it’s understanding of my powers. (Aside from the benefit to pure research, what if, say, someone figures out how to duplicate my “healing factor,” and they can use it to cure spinal chord damage? Or cancer? Or AIDS?) Failing that, I’d probably try to use them for something really “constructive”—like civil engineering, disaster relief, etc.—before trying to become a vigilante or a supersoldier. If, for no other reason, than I don’t think I’d be any good at the latter unless I had some kind of really overwhelming superhuman “edge.” (Like Jean Grey/Superman/“Q” level powers.)
As a plus, with the latter, I’d just get a kick out of doing something like flying into a Marine Corps recruiting station, telling the guy at the front desk the name of his imaginary friend from when he was 8 years old, bending an anvil into a pretzel with my teeth, and asking if they have any job openings. Just to see the look on his face.
It would have been nice to have been Superman after the first plane hit the WTC, I could have forced the other one to land safely and hopefully rescued alot more people.
I also could have stopped the bulked of NO flooding. Rapid Levee repair.
I would probably eventually give into temptation and also make some rash and irresponsible acts. I have a fairly high rage factor while driving. So maybe flying would improve my temperment.
An interesting way of counting, which is incorrect even if you just look at the United States. Lots of people who post here wouldn’t fall into your “we” category.
Spiderman-level powers are local. I would go around and shut down every drug den in the city, plus help out whenever I came across a crime in progress.
Superman-level powers are another story. Might as well say goodbye to meth, cocaine, and heroin globally. The harder part would be respecting people’s privacy while trying to stop violent predators.
I would not keep a secret identity. My job would be superhero. What cash I needed to live comfortably but not extravagantly would be “donated” by the drug dealers I stop.
No doubt, any superhero in the modern world would immediate run afoul of just about every law and intelligence agency on the globe. Last thing I would ever do is let someone study me. I wouldn’t trust them. Also, I would never tell anyone everything I could do, nor would I correct misconceptions surrounding my abilities.
Lastly, whether I’m Batman up against the Joker, Superman up against Lex Luthor, Spiderman up against Green Goblin, or Captain America up against the Red Skull, none of them get a second chance…ever.
As pointed out, in the comics superheroes and super-villains tend to cancel each other out. In the real world . . . I’m not sure where I’d start. Spiderman’s powers are fine for foiling muggings, bank robberies, and the like – but how often could I find such a crime in progress? (Although I guess the “Spidey sense” helps.)
With Superman’s powers . . . well, the world would soon be a different place. “No more nukes” would be a reality; tyrants (including the one in the White House) would be wetting their pants and either changing their ways or quietly disappearing – no, make that spectacularly disappearing. Of course, once I started down that road, it would automatically make me the biggest tyrant of all. Nothing’s simple about this stuff.
Oh, and y’know how Superman doesn’t indulge himself by looking through ladies’ clothing? That’s not me.
I would want to have The Flash’s power of speed. I would totally be the best football/track & field athlete EVAR! Traffic would never be a problem again.
If I’m Spider-man, I’d become a “honorary” cop, like a SWAT team, so I wouldn’t show up unless they really needed me. No point making them feel redundant. I’d just swing around with a little portable police scanner.
Superman level powers? I’d be very, very careful. Ditto on no supervillians getting a second chance (unless I got bored). Also no tests. I’d try to be good and benevolent, but, as my friend Shaun says, if I got powers he’d have to get them too, so he could stop me when I went bad. I’d set up a fortress somewhere nice, perhaps a private island. No involvement in politics unless it’s really needed. I wouldn’t vote or endorse certain candidates, since I’d be afraid of influencing people through my fame.
Secret identity? Naw. I’d just make sure that the bad guys are very VERY aware of the consequences of anyone attacking one of my loved ones.
