Most useless (but feared) superpower

Setzer · Post by **Setzer** » 2003-07-07 03:54pm

Which comic book superpower is made much of, and claimed to be invincible, but anyone with a brain could counter? Like the Dune shields (they aren't from comics, and so aren't applicable here, but I need something to illustrate) we're always hearing about how they can block fast moving objects, but the laws of physics would mean they help you beat up a shielded target even faster.

Any superpower which could be easily beaten but isn't.

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2003-07-07 04:14pm

I think Wolverine as a whole is overly feared when even normal humans could do well against him with some prepartion. He seems to get by alot on character sheilding and healing. He's still very skilled, strong and fast so it's not like he's a push over but some of that stuff the Punisher did to him made sense.

Actually, a lot of the supposed nearly invulnerable super beings should be easier to stop than what the comics show. Most of them have to breathe, that should be a big big weakness. Drowning, suffication and gas attacks should be a problem for many of the tough guys (kind of like the invulnerable guy in Rising Stars).

Shortie · Post by **Shortie** » 2003-07-07 04:18pm

It's not specifically about your question, but it's a classic anyway: http://www.seanbaby.com/super.htm

Further to that, how about most vampires. "I can only be killed by a stake through the heart. How likely is that? Oh wait, or decapitation, or fire. But apart from that, I'm invincible." Very scary for cavemen, but not to anyone sensible today.

There are a depressing number of similar examples in sci-fi, but let's not talk about Star Trek. Ooops.

The Drunkard Kid · Post by **The Drunkard Kid** » 2003-07-07 05:00pm

The 10 Eyed Man from Pre-Crisis DCU. According to Batman, he's "THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN ALIVE", despite the fact that his powers are that he's got an eye on each of his fingertips, and that his weapon of choice is a latex gun. While I can understand why the idea of being wrapped in a giant condom might be frightening to some, Batman once took this guy out by throwing a freakin' *bush* at his him and watching him fall to the ground screaming when he instinctively caught it.

And Seanbaby provides more info on him here.

Demiurge · Post by **Demiurge** » 2003-07-07 06:18pm

The Drunkard Kid wrote:The 10 Eyed Man from Pre-Crisis DCU. According to Batman, he's "THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN ALIVE", despite the fact that his powers are that he's got an eye on each of his fingertips, and that his weapon of choice is a latex gun. While I can understand why the idea of being wrapped in a giant condom might be frightening to some, Batman once took this guy out by throwing a freakin' *bush* at his him and watching him fall to the ground screaming when he instinctively caught it.

And Seanbaby provides more info on him here.

He must have been the inspiration for Trioculus.

"Without three eyes, he could never achieve perfection."

Rye · Post by **Rye** » 2003-07-07 06:24pm

What about the ringer? He was shit IIRC.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2003-07-07 07:39pm

I liked my caracter FX, the abiliuty to project Theme music, hey I'm feared can't you hear the Smeggin spooky music.

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2003-07-08 02:03am

I thought Sienna Blaze's powers were pretty stupid.

She could cause massive EMPs, which is cool, except that she could only do massive EMP's. Supposedly if she did more than a few of them or did them near one of the magnetic polls she could royally fuck up the planet.

Not really the kind of power that would make you want to slap on a costume.

"You better leave me alone or I'll destroy the planet...that...I'm... living..on..MAN these powers suck!"

LT.Hit-Man · Post by **LT.Hit-Man** » 2003-07-10 01:12am

Magneto.
Do you have any idea on how easy it would be to take him out?

Shit a one slug of super hard plastic at a high volasty though the eye would kill him.

Shadow WarChief · Post by **Shadow WarChief** » 2003-07-10 01:57am

LT.Hit-Man wrote:Magneto.
Do you have any idea on how easy it would be to take him out?

Shit a one slug of super hard plastic at a high volasty though the eye would kill him.

I'm not sure about since I haven't actually read such an issue, but I've heard someone say that somebody actually tried this once in the comics and Magneto's would be assasin ended up dieing....grusomely.

I'm not sure if it's true though

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2003-07-10 06:50am

The power to wear a silly hat without feeling embarassed.

Pablo Sanchez · Post by **Pablo Sanchez** » 2003-07-10 11:54am

LT.Hit-Man wrote:Magneto.
Do you have any idea on how easy it would be to take him out?

Shit a one slug of super hard plastic at a high volasty though the eye would kill him.

The problem with all these "how to kill someone" scenarios is that they assume that the target would remain passive.

The Drunkard Kid · Post by **The Drunkard Kid** » 2003-07-10 12:12pm

LT.Hit-Man wrote:Magneto.
Do you have any idea on how easy it would be to take him out?

Shit a one slug of super hard plastic at a high volasty though the eye would kill him.

IIRC, he's got a degree of superhuman reaction speed (the ability to catch bullets with his powers, from close range, *after* they've been fired, etc...) , in the comics at least, he's definitely got the ability to control the entire EM spectrum, focused mainly on magnetism. His force field is generally on in any situation where he isn't trying to talk it out with fellow mutants, or surrounded by loyal followers and some of the best security systems in the Marvel Universe, and has the ability to stop things that aren't magnetic (ie: Rogue's fists). Not to mention that his traditional costume has a helmet that leaves only the very front of his face exposed, with the rest of his armor being strong enough to at least mostly cushion a killing strike from Wolverine's claws...

Anyone who tries to shoot him with a plastic bullet would basically have to come at him from in front, while he's either got a force field up, or is surrounded by extremely powerful (and most likely extremely loyal) mutants...

Dizzy D · Post by **Dizzy D** » 2003-07-10 12:44pm

LT.Hit-Man wrote:Magneto.
Do you have any idea on how easy it would be to take him out?

Shit a one slug of super hard plastic at a high volasty though the eye would kill him.

And how makes this his power exactly useless (see topic) ?

Baron Mordo · Post by **Baron Mordo** » 2003-07-10 02:33pm

The Green Arrow. What's his power? Oh yeah, he has a bow.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2003-07-10 02:41pm

Baron Mordo wrote:The Green Arrow. What's his power? Oh yeah, he has a bow.

Much like Batman, the uncanny ability to survive things no human could(dodging sub machine gun fire alone)

That and think of having a 1MT arrow(yes he actually claimed having one of these)

The Drunkard Kid · Post by **The Drunkard Kid** » 2003-07-10 03:20pm

Baron Mordo wrote:The Green Arrow. What's his power? Oh yeah, he has a bow.

IIRC, DC had him have metahuman accuracy for at least a short stint (as an explainaition for his implausible feats, not as a new power altogether). I dunno if they retconned that or not by now, though...

Slartibartfast · Post by **Slartibartfast** » 2003-07-11 05:11am

Shortie wrote:Further to that, how about most vampires. "I can only be killed by a stake through the heart. How likely is that? Oh wait, or decapitation, or fire. But apart from that, I'm invincible." Very scary for cavemen, but not to anyone sensible today.

Or sunlight. Or drowning (actually submersion in running water). Or holy water. Or by beating them repeatedly on the head with a 20-kg cross. Or tricking them into drinking a dead corpse's blood. Or saying their names backwards. Or using silver+garlic bullets. Or kryptonite. Or exposure to Janeway porn. Or forced to listen to one of Bush's speeches. Or infecting them with herpes. Or turning the stereo really loud.

Vampires are weak... just make sure they don't get wet or eat after midnight.

Slartibartfast · Post by **Slartibartfast** » 2003-07-11 05:18am

Ghost Rider wrote:
Baron Mordo wrote:The Green Arrow. What's his power? Oh yeah, he has a bow.
Much like Batman, the uncanny ability to survive things no human could(dodging sub machine gun fire alone)

That and think of having a 1MT arrow(yes he actually claimed having one of these)

I bet that arrow weighs a million tons...

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2003-07-11 06:58am

Ghost Rider wrote:
Baron Mordo wrote:The Green Arrow. What's his power? Oh yeah, he has a bow.
Much like Batman, the uncanny ability to survive things no human could(dodging sub machine gun fire alone)

That and think of having a 1MT arrow(yes he actually claimed having one of these)

CLAIMED!!

He damn well used them against Darkseid....

Oh and it did exactly J/S....