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[tor dot com] Five Superpowers That Just Aren't As Fun as They Sound

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James Nicoll

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Sep 22, 2021, 10:08:39 AM9/22/21
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Five Superpowers That Just Aren't As Fun as They Sound
https://www.tor.com/2021/09/22/five-superpowers-that-just-arent-as-fun-as-they-sound/
--
My reviews can be found at http://jamesdavisnicoll.com/
My tor pieces at https://www.tor.com/author/james-davis-nicoll/
My Dreamwidth at https://james-davis-nicoll.dreamwidth.org/
My patreon is at https://www.patreon.com/jamesdnicoll

Quadibloc

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Sep 22, 2021, 12:32:57 PM9/22/21
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On Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at 8:08:39 AM UTC-6, James Nicoll wrote:
> Five Superpowers That Just Aren't As Fun as They Sound
> https://www.tor.com/2021/09/22/five-superpowers-that-just-arent-as-fun-as-they-sound/

Nice to see a mention of Empowered. I followed that back when it was
only a graphic novel.

John Savard

pete...@gmail.com

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Sep 22, 2021, 1:14:24 PM9/22/21
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On Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at 10:08:39 AM UTC-4, James Nicoll wrote:
> Five Superpowers That Just Aren't As Fun as They Sound
> https://www.tor.com/2021/09/22/five-superpowers-that-just-arent-as-fun-as-they-sound/

With super speed, there's two problems I never see addressed:

1 Flash would create sonic booms when he gets up to speed, and do so on the ground, not
miles up in the sky.

2 If he goes over about 20,000 mph (crossing the country in about 8 minutes, not 'a heartbeat')
he's at orbital velocity, and could no longer keep his feet on the ground.

Pt

James Nicoll

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Sep 22, 2021, 1:43:53 PM9/22/21
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In article <d7c93a5a-e117-489d...@googlegroups.com>,
pete...@gmail.com <pete...@gmail.com> wrote:
>On Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at 10:08:39 AM UTC-4, James Nicoll wrote:
>> Five Superpowers That Just Aren't As Fun as They Sound
>>
>https://www.tor.com/2021/09/22/five-superpowers-that-just-arent-as-fun-as-they-sound/
>
>
>With super speed, there's two problems I never see addressed:
>
>1 Flash would create sonic booms when he gets up to speed, and do so on the
>ground, not
>miles up in the sky.

This actually came up! Flash's powers usually include being able to prevent
the occurance of shock waves. However, an attempt to restore his powers after
he was depowered temporarily gave him superspeed without that particular ability.
He didn't die but he did cause a lot of property damage before he managed to
stop.

>2 If he goes over about 20,000 mph (crossing the country in about 8 minutes,
>not 'a heartbeat')
>he's at orbital velocity, and could no longer keep his feet on the ground.

Flash's version of "A wizard did it" is "speed force".

Lynn McGuire

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Sep 22, 2021, 4:27:08 PM9/22/21
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On 9/22/2021 9:08 AM, James Nicoll wrote:
> Five Superpowers That Just Aren't As Fun as They Sound
> https://www.tor.com/2021/09/22/five-superpowers-that-just-arent-as-fun-as-they-sound/

Next article: Micro Powers
https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Found-Orson-Scott-Card/dp/1982613416/

Lynn

J. Clarke

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Sep 22, 2021, 5:48:07 PM9/22/21
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On Wed, 22 Sep 2021 17:43:50 -0000 (UTC), jdni...@panix.com (James
Nicoll) wrote:

>In article <d7c93a5a-e117-489d...@googlegroups.com>,
>pete...@gmail.com <pete...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>On Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at 10:08:39 AM UTC-4, James Nicoll wrote:
>>> Five Superpowers That Just Aren't As Fun as They Sound
>>>
>>https://www.tor.com/2021/09/22/five-superpowers-that-just-arent-as-fun-as-they-sound/
>>
>>
>>With super speed, there's two problems I never see addressed:
>>
>>1 Flash would create sonic booms when he gets up to speed, and do so on the
>>ground, not
>>miles up in the sky.
>
>This actually came up! Flash's powers usually include being able to prevent
>the occurance of shock waves. However, an attempt to restore his powers after
>he was depowered temporarily gave him superspeed without that particular ability.
>He didn't die but he did cause a lot of property damage before he managed to
>stop.
>
>>2 If he goes over about 20,000 mph (crossing the country in about 8 minutes,
>>not 'a heartbeat')
>>he's at orbital velocity, and could no longer keep his feet on the ground.
>
>Flash's version of "A wizard did it" is "speed force".

It's all "a wizard did it". Flash violates the conservation laws and
Newtonian mechanics that I know of--I don't recall now if he's
violated relativity.

Lynn McGuire

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Sep 22, 2021, 6:05:34 PM9/22/21
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Flash violates relativity in the Superheros show that my wife loves.
They time travel constantly.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legends_of_Tomorrow

Lynn

Sjouke Burry

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Sep 22, 2021, 6:56:49 PM9/22/21
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Was he not from another solar system?
In which case he violated relativity.

J. Clarke

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Sep 22, 2021, 7:28:10 PM9/22/21
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I burnt out on DC TV a long time ago. I'm pretty much burnt out on DC
period. They had one shining moment of awesome and then couldn't
follow up on it.

Robert Carnegie

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Sep 23, 2021, 10:13:08 AM9/23/21
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No, but a wizard did it.
<https://theflash.fandom.com/wiki/Mopee>

Harold Hill

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Sep 23, 2021, 11:48:01 AM9/23/21
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Now I'm curious, what was that shining moment?

--
-Harold Hill

Paul S Person

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Sep 23, 2021, 12:04:28 PM9/23/21
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Read that a while back.

Good Card juvie. Interesting situation, nice resolution.
--
"I begin to envy Petronius."
"I have envied him long since."

Ted Nolan <tednolan>

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Sep 23, 2021, 12:05:05 PM9/23/21
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In article <a34a42e0-1221-4bcf...@googlegroups.com>,
13?
--
columbiaclosings.com
What's not in Columbia anymore..

J. Clarke

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Sep 23, 2021, 12:18:30 PM9/23/21
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The first Gal Gadot Wonder Woman movie.

Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha

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Sep 23, 2021, 12:30:43 PM9/23/21
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J. Clarke <jclarke...@gmail.com> wrote in
news:r5apkghahhs74vft4...@4ax.com:
A very old school superhero movie. Good guys and bad guys, and in
the end, the good guys kick the bad guys' asses. Without any
intrespective angst to speak of, and without moral ambiguity.

--
Terry Austin

Proof that Alan Baker is a liar and a fool, and even stupider than
Lynn:
https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/sw-border-migration
(May 2019 total for people arrested for entering the United States
illegally is over 132,000 for just the southwest border.)

Vacation photos from Iceland:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/collection/QaXQkB

Lynn McGuire

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Sep 23, 2021, 6:45:54 PM9/23/21
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On 9/23/2021 11:03 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
> On Wed, 22 Sep 2021 15:27:03 -0500, Lynn McGuire
> <lynnmc...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On 9/22/2021 9:08 AM, James Nicoll wrote:
>>> Five Superpowers That Just Aren't As Fun as They Sound
>>> https://www.tor.com/2021/09/22/five-superpowers-that-just-arent-as-fun-as-they-sound/
>>
>> Next article: Micro Powers
>> https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Found-Orson-Scott-Card/dp/1982613416/
>
> Read that a while back.
>
> Good Card juvie. Interesting situation, nice resolution.

There is a sequel.

https://www.amazon.com/Duplex-Micropowers-Orson-Scott-Card/dp/1799903176/

Lynn


Paul S Person

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Sep 24, 2021, 11:32:10 AM9/24/21
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On Thu, 23 Sep 2021 17:45:49 -0500, Lynn McGuire
<lynnmc...@gmail.com> wrote:

>On 9/23/2021 11:03 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
>> On Wed, 22 Sep 2021 15:27:03 -0500, Lynn McGuire
>> <lynnmc...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> On 9/22/2021 9:08 AM, James Nicoll wrote:
>>>> Five Superpowers That Just Aren't As Fun as They Sound
>>>> https://www.tor.com/2021/09/22/five-superpowers-that-just-arent-as-fun-as-they-sound/
>>>
>>> Next article: Micro Powers
>>> https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Found-Orson-Scott-Card/dp/1982613416/
>>
>> Read that a while back.
>>
>> Good Card juvie. Interesting situation, nice resolution.
>
>There is a sequel.
>
>https://www.amazon.com/Duplex-Micropowers-Orson-Scott-Card/dp/1799903176/

Was that, by any chance, at one point a planned YA novel named /Bully
and the Beast/?

I added it to my list; however, I have /no/ idea when (or if) I will
cycle back to catch up with Card again.

I'm currently catching up with Cherryh. And there are /lots/ of
authors after her.

Lafe

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Sep 24, 2021, 3:25:06 PM9/24/21
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J. Clarke <jclarke...@gmail.com> wrote in
news:r5apkghahhs74vft4...@4ax.com:
> On Thu, 23 Sep 2021 08:47:55 -0700 (PDT), Harold Hill
> <kyle.pel...@gmail.com> wrote:
<snip>
>>> I burnt out on DC TV a long time ago. I'm pretty much burnt out on DC
>>> period. They had one shining moment of awesome and then couldn't
>>> follow up on it.
>>
>>Now I'm curious, what was that shining moment?
>
> The first Gal Gadot Wonder Woman movie.

I was going to post this same answer. Outstanding movie. And possibly the
only thing I've unreservedly enjoyed from the DC tv/movie universe. Sure, it
could be criticized, but I enjoyed every moment of it.

I wish that DC could figure things out and produce more really great shows
from their IP.

Lafe

Ted Nolan <tednolan>

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Sep 24, 2021, 5:24:02 PM9/24/21
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In article <16a7d89060c5d50d$1$2537919$50d5...@news.newsdemon.com>,
They have, they do. It's just in animation.

Lafe

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Sep 24, 2021, 9:06:33 PM9/24/21
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t...@loft.tnolan.com (Ted Nolan <tednolan>) wrote in
news:ir6tvf...@mid.individual.net:

> In article <16a7d89060c5d50d$1$2537919$50d5...@news.newsdemon.com>,
> Lafe <la...@lafes.newlafe.net> wrote:
>>J. Clarke <jclarke...@gmail.com> wrote in
<snip>
>>> The first Gal Gadot Wonder Woman movie.
>>
>>I was going to post this same answer. Outstanding movie. And possibly
>>the only thing I've unreservedly enjoyed from the DC tv/movie universe.
>>Sure, it could be criticized, but I enjoyed every moment of it.
>>
>>I wish that DC could figure things out and produce more really great
>>shows from their IP.
>>
>>Lafe
>
> They have, they do. It's just in animation.

Oh. I admit that I haven't delved into their animation at all. Do you have
recommendations?

Lafe

Ted Nolan <tednolan>

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Sep 24, 2021, 11:42:06 PM9/24/21
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In article <16a7eb3255385b27$1$3213316$8d5...@news.newsdemon.com>,
Well, "Batman The Animated Series" is probably where it all begins.

The Justice League animated series was also good.

Currently the "Harley Quinn" series is a lot of (R Rated) fun.

Flashpoint and Justice League Dark are pretty good.

Even "Teen Titans Go!" can be brilliantly stupid in small doses
("Girls Night Out", "Pyramid Scheme"), when its not being stupidly stupid.

Lafe

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Sep 25, 2021, 2:08:32 AM9/25/21
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t...@loft.tnolan.com (Ted Nolan <tednolan>) wrote in news:ir7k4aFh22eU1
@mid.individual.net:

> In article <16a7eb3255385b27$1$3213316$8d5...@news.newsdemon.com>,
> Lafe <la...@lafes.newlafe.net> wrote:
<snip>
>>Oh. I admit that I haven't delved into their animation at all. Do you have
>>recommendations?
>>
>>Lafe
>
> Well, "Batman The Animated Series" is probably where it all begins.
>
> The Justice League animated series was also good.
>
> Currently the "Harley Quinn" series is a lot of (R Rated) fun.
>
> Flashpoint and Justice League Dark are pretty good.
>
> Even "Teen Titans Go!" can be brilliantly stupid in small doses
> ("Girls Night Out", "Pyramid Scheme"), when its not being stupidly stupid.

Thanks for the recommendations. I'll have to give them a shot.

Lafe

Paul S Person

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Sep 25, 2021, 11:19:18 AM9/25/21
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On Fri, 24 Sep 2021 19:25:04 +0000, Lafe <la...@lafes.newlafe.net>
wrote:
Their live-action stuff is generally ... not that good. But the same
for Marvel's.

Their /animated/ stuff, though, various from drivel to quite good.

Paul S Person

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Sep 25, 2021, 11:29:06 AM9/25/21
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On Sat, 25 Sep 2021 06:08:30 -0000 (UTC), Lafe <la...@lafes.invalid>
wrote:
Those appear to mostly be series.

For /films/, good ones include:

Batman: Bad Blood
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Parts One and Two
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
Justice League Dark: Apokalypse War
Justice League vs The Fatal Five

IMHO, of course.

There are lots of others, many of them worth watching once.
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