By “musical theatre universe,” I mean a world that operates according to the rules of the Buffy episode “Once More With Feeling.” Strong emotions will move you (and others) to sing in an appropriate genre. No burning up, though. You’ll have a passable (at least) voice while under such influence; music will come from nowhere; and rhyming, rhythm, and dance will come instinctively.
The DC comics universe is, of course, the current version. Pluses include a much higher proportion of hot people of both genders, the possibility of getting super-powers via lightning bolt or whatever, and enormously higher tech levels. The minuses include monthly alien invasions, weekly volcanic eruptions, and the Joker.
Forced to choose between these two options (and death), which do you pick and why?
The answers to the poll question assume a different question than the thread title. I answered “which one would you rather live in?” which is pretty obviously the Musical Theater Universe on account of the not wanting to suddenly die factor.
The comics universe (DC, Marvel, whatever) would be worse. At least in the musical theater world they don’t wipe out the universe and start a new one every decade or so.
I voted for the pure hell option. If, however, you expanded the rules so that all songs sung in the musical universe were written by Sondheim, I might change my vote.
It’s really kind of tragic
I’m unlikely to get magic
or any super-gain
(te deedly deedly pom)
In a world with a Joker
He may blow me into smoke or
just liquify my brain
Oh, I just don’t know why
Superpowers go to the young -
Older people sometimes get stung
But they never even grow an extra tongue.
(bim bum)
Sure, a world full of singing
would set my head to ringing
But I probably survive
(te deedly deedly pom)
I may spend all day a-rhymin’
and I’d have to work on my timing
But at least I’d be alive.
I agree with Duke’s reasoning. Plus, musicals tend to end happily for everybody but the bad guys, while in modern comics, everybody who doesn’t die in random and violent fashion seems to wallow in misery, [del]even[/del] especially the good guys.
So in the spirit of the OP, I chose a poll option that does not actually represent my opinion in any way.
And for Og’s sake, if you’re a woman and you pick the comic book world, don’t get romantically involved with a superhero! You’ll end up stuffed dead into a refrigerator!
Do we have any idea which one will be safer in the long run? The Buffyverse has the singing, but also has the body-count. The Ozverse is pretty safe, unless you’re water-soluble. Dr. Horribleverse would seem to have the worst of both worlds, the singing AND the slaughter.
Not that I’m only concerned with safety. What are my odds of getting superpowered in the Heroverse?
