posted
OK so the writing contest died a silent death. I hate to point fingers but it's all Paddington Bear's fault. He cracked out with a 'Lurleen' entry right out of the box. The competition was over. It was unbeatable.
So how about this-
Pick your superpowers. yeah seriously. I am looking to see who can design the most unbeatable superhero.
posted
Well I can read all your minds. That way I know what you're going to do before you do it and can defend myself. Nobody can surprise me.
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posted
Yes, it's all my fault. Yes, I stole Lurleen from the Simpsons. Specifically, the episode with the classic line, "Marge, it takes two to lie, one to lie and one to listen."
I don't want to end this contest early. I've always thought the best and unbeatable superpower, and the one I'd like to have was created by Uncle Orson in Treason; Lanik Mueller's ability to slow or speed up his own timeflow. I could use it, and no one would be the wiser, and think of all the good I could do. Of course, I'd be prematurely old, but I could get a lot done.
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posted
It's sad really. You are all going to die, destroyed by the sheer force of my superior superpower...
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Well, I wasn't going to mention it, but my super power is Beauti-Fu-Do, an ancient, Warrior-Princess beauty martial art and way of life.
Basically, I go around with my special powers creating beauty where there was ugliness. In particular, I am skilled with all Sephora tools, including the individual lash extensions. I revel in intensive gym workouts, long mall shopping excursions, and french nail tips. I am able to detract calories with a single blow, all without getting one hair out of place! It's quite a talent!
The energy of joy emating from such perfect beauty allows me the super-human strength similar to the likes of Kayla, He-Man, and Xena! Sincerely, Beauty Warrior Princess
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Treason, was that the one where the couple slowed down their own time so much that to everyone else they looked like statues? And came back to normal time after what was (to them) a short conversation, and it turned out to be like a hundred years later?
That was so interesting! Cool superpower.
But, I knew you were going to say that. Posts: 5841 | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
I think the ultimate super power would be "What is spoken is reality." Imagine being able to say, "All cars will never create any polution ever again." At which point reality changes, cars stop poluting, and nobody thinks its unusual or strange.
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posted
Unbeatable as in defeating an opponent, or unbeatable as in generating interest in a reader or viewer or other consumer of the fictional universe?
The first is easy. The second is a lot harder. Actually, giving too much power to a super hero is a sure way to make a boring story. In any story, there has to be a challenge. The challenges for Superman have to all be so unbelievably fantastic. For Spider-Man, arguably a more interesting character, the challenges can be less so. And, occasionally, the writers can still throw a massive challenge at such a hero, and see how he copes. One of my favorite Spider-Man stories was his attempts to try to keep one of the Avengers' foes at bay until the Avengers showed up. The Avengers never did show up, so Spider-Man had to deal with the problem alone. He had to do a lot of healing after that one. And I wish that they would make a movie of the story where Spider-Man went blind, and received advice from Daredevil as to how to continue as Spider-Man.
From 1962 to 1973, my brother and I created hundreds of super heroes and super villains, and drew our own comics. We quickly learned not to give too much power to any of them.
Funny, how the most interesting heroes (of the ones that I created) were the ones that were created in 1962, when I was seven years old. I can't describe them here because I haven't completely abandoned hope for them, although I should because I've done nothing with them since 1979.
[ November 14, 2005, 01:34 PM: Message edited by: Randy ]
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I'd much rather say, PolarBear has the same powers as the wonder twins (form of Polar Bear)
But then if went around granting all these powers I'd also have to do things like Jimmy-Joe Fernando is the ultimate contractor able to erect a 10 story building in a weeks time.
If you can't rebuild at least as fast as things get destroyed, well where's the fun in that. So, you need to have some people with boring super powers. Or, maybe they're great super powers but they use them in ordinary ways. Like the power to effect the gravity on any object. They would be the ultimate crane. Posts: 10866 | Registered: Oct 2004
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I have to say FBN has the most undefeatable hero so far but I can see one mistake in wording getting him in big trouble.
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That's easy, he just has to say "I never have problems finding the right words and will always say the perfect thing for the situation"
However, I'm wondering if FBN is able to turn his powers on and off. That seems like it would make real communication difficult.
Also you have to wonder if he could create paradoxes and totally mess up the future he's in by mentioning the past. Like any number of movies have gone into in great detail.
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I really liked its approach to reality bending activities. And for the record, if I turned off my powers, they would stay off. Using the Polar Bear statement. And perhaps that would be the characters weakness, not being able to turn off the power. Kinda like the Midas touch.
And if I changed history, then I would be aware of what was before and what was changed as a result.
You're right normal conversations would be difficult. I could no longer say, "You rmember when little Bille fell." Maybe I should become a lawyer as my alter ego. "Tell us about the night little Billie died."
posted
but for example, if you said something like "Hitler was never born"... you would screw up modern history beyond all recognition. Or, to be even more dramatic, "Rome never fell." Can you imagine the implications?
(no, I'm not bored at work with my mind looking for something interesting to think about.... why do you ask?)
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FBN, have you read Diana Wynne Jones' Witch Week? It has a character with just that problem (temporarily). What if he says that 2 + 2 = 5?
My superpower is shooting sharp darts out of my eyeballs. They are bionic eyeballs obviously, which would be great as my own are not worth keeping anyway! Also I have a flying car, of course. Invisible.
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posted
But, then again how often does a person make a declarative statement. I think a person would hear much more often, "I wonder what would life have been like if Hitler had never been born."
And even in my above example it would be much more common to hear, "Do you remember the night Billie fell down?"
On ther hand if your talking about self serving declartive statements, I think those are more common. Like, "I'm going to work." In which case I would go to work without deviation. (Imagine Ella Enchanted).
Edit to add: Haven't heard of Witch Week. And I imagine that since five is simply a name for a symbol representing a quantity of something, that 4 and 5 would switch places. So, from then on the word/symbol for a collection of four things would become five(5).
posted
Some of us more seasoned folks might remember an old Twilight Zone show in which the main character had the basic ability FBN describes. He could create anything by speaking into a tape recorder, and the creation would stay in existence until he destroyed the snippet of tape. This included his wife, who became wearisome to him, so he destroyed her tape, and started over. Now, if Sony could only..... Posts: 57 | Registered: Oct 2004
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The coolest power (or at least in the top ten) I've read about is the hero in Spellsinger by Alan Dean Foster. He plays a guitar, sings a song, and the words of the song come to life.
But you have to be careful. For example when he sang Sloop John B. he made himself the first mate on the boat he created. Which meant that he was drunk the entire voyage, and that he had a brief glimpse of the world he wanted to return to.
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Again, magneto. The ability to control magnetic fields. Imagine the reality of a fusion reactor. Anything with an electric charge or containing iron is at your command. Time travel. And since the distinction between electricity and magnetism is a little blurry, that very well may include power over electricity. Need to cut through anything? You're a walking plasma cutter. That's what I want, control over one of the four forces.
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posted
Not to rain of this Superhero parade, but aren't Superheros supposed to have some inherent weakness? That's what makes them human and the plot lines of these Superheros have conflict.
If some omnipotent Superhero was created, then there wouldn't be any arch-emenies to oppose him.
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Magson, Superman had other weaknesses. For example, he could make himself mortal. He didn't have powers away from a yellow sun. etc...
giddonah, while Magneto is awesome (and probably has the one of the few powers I'd like) he is definitely beatable.
JennaDean, do you really want to know what all those psychos out there are thinking? It might drive you mad.
P-bear, that is probably the WORST super-power. What happens if you speed up time and get knocked out? Then you wake up after the sun has swallowed the earth! (Or, rather, you've been burned away before that happens.)
lumina, He-man was AWESOME! However, french nail tips are scary, and of the devil. Sorry!
FlyByNight, as has been pointed out the greatest weakness to that power is manipulation by others, or (accidentally) using the power on oneself for wrong-doing. "I am evil incarnate!" (Oh, and the wonder-twins were rad! Oh, and yes I've seen Lathe of Heaven. Weird movie.)
roper66, yeah, not a good idea.
PeacoatPrincess, if I had to choose between Magneto's power and Mystique, I would choose Magneto, but only because I wouldn't like to be blue. Shapechanging is rad.
Jen, LOL! Better that than getting de-fraculated!
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Alrighty! The best super-hero would be...(drum roll please)... God.
But since that answer is (probably) not the intention of thread here is the power I just thought up that would be nice. I'd like the ability to cast spells. Fireballs, featherfall, and all the classics. I'd also cast a spell upon myself of mind protection (so others couldn't manipulate me) and a spell to kill myself instantly if I ever became a son of perdition. But wouldn't that be cool if you could cast fireballs, and float, and do everything, but you'd never have to worry about doing it accidently (with the talking thing). Of course, this is definitely beatable.
For an unbeatable super-power...Q from Star Trek comes close. The genie from Aladin, minus the lamp weakness is good too.
Hmmm...the more I think about it, the only unbeatable super-power is God's. Perfect goodness combined with perfect power.
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posted
I've changed my mind. I want to be a Maker. Jenna Maker. (Sounds kind of dorky.) But I could make things stick together, or come apart in just the right shape, or clean themselves. I could get animals to do what I want. Make a plow come to life. Heal broken bones. Change someone's DNA. See through even PPrincess's best disguises.
Although the really tough stuff would require me to bleed. Don't know if I'd want to do that. And of course my weakness would be, I'd be the prime target for the Unmaker. Not a simple thing.
Edited to ask, Jacare? What do you mean by "Sea Bass?"
ooooooooo. SPOOKY DANGEROUS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't forget about the Butterfly Effect! Even a slight wing flutter can drastically change events thousands of miles away.
quote:And if I changed history, then I would be aware of what was before and what was changed as a result.
Not necessarily. Once you've changed history there would be not be an alternate history TO remember unless you somehow had the existences co-exist in a parallel universe type of event. How can you remember nothing?
quote:Maybe I should become a lawyer as my alter ego. "Tell us about the night little Billie died."
And with every question you ask or victory you won you would always wonder in your heart, is the person telling me what he/she wants to and would have told me (the Universe's reality that would have been), or is the person simply executing the hollow reality I just created with my words?" (i.e., I'm so lonely living all alone in this real world reality that I created in my head.)
quote:"Hitler was never born"... you would screw up modern history beyond all recognition. Or, to be even more dramatic, "Rome never fell." Can you imagine the implications?
An added danger in these types of statements is you may inadvertantly erase your birth and/or existance by changing what went before. Additionally, you might accidentally erase your birth in a way that erases the word-reality-changes you made, and ultimately allows the Universe to snap back into harmony, undoing any prior damage ripples you may have created.
quote:I think a person would hear much more often, "I wonder what would life have been like if Hitler had never been born."
No. Now you have created a PRESENT TENSE REALITY of you "wondering" what life would be like if Hitler had never been born. Now you are stuck in "wondering!" You just made it a reality with your words.
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posted
My point, FBN, I think you're playin with fire. But if you insist on going forward with your evil super power plan let me know and I will at least try to whip up a nice outfit and hair style for you to look charming in while you wreak havoc. Posts: 1911 | Registered: Nov 2004
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ZETA-FLUX QUOTE: "Blah, blah HATE French Nails!"
HEY Zeta-Flux!!! NOT MINE!! MY French Nail Tips are as GOOD as HE-MAN!! Anyway, that's my power - adding beauty to people and things!! Wait till ya see some of the French Nails I've got - the real short sport length ones that look totally NATURAL!! (And oh so nice to the touch!) You'd LOVE EM!!!
(Even tho my super power-osity has some weaknesses, my French Tips AREN'T one of them...
posted
ohhh. One other thing FBN. You run a high risk of extinguishing your super power. The slightest change in past events could ripple through to take away the factor/variable/event that CAUSED the super power to exist in you. This voiding of power could occur in a sticky situation where you would have used your power to undo the word-reality, but you would be caught in the event like a bug stuck between the glass and storm windows. You can see what happened. But there's no way to get out and undo the mess you got yourself into.
Sorry to have to break your potential misadventures to you. But your power is so fascinating as to elicit much speculation!
posted
I choose Letter-Man from the electric company. He can change words around and they become the new reality. He always has just the right one or two letters on his sweater that he needs for the exact situation.
And he helps kids learn to spell at the same time!!
So if fighting Super-man, I take the P off my chest and make him Supper-man! He isn't very tough, but he is now a great cook!
The same process can be used to combat any evil. It can be used on anything or any part of a thing. For instance I could have used the C off my chest to replace the M and Super-man would now be a Super-Can, not very fast but he could hold alot of soup!
My enemies with time powers (by using the M off my sweater now have Mime powers) - which makes foor good entertainment and fun costumes, but they can't do too much damage.
quote:"Hitler was never born"... you would screw up modern history beyond all recognition. Or, to be even more dramatic, "Rome never fell." Can you imagine the implications?
posted
The 'Time Shift' thing was in a sci-fi back in the sixties - I think it's been adapted in some later storylines too. There is a slight difference between 'shift' and 'travel'. That idea of speeding it up and slowing down (shifting) has many illegal possibilities.
Sadly, the Law of Conservation of Energy has greater possibilities!! Probabilities, even (Thank you, elder Monson, Thank you)heh
I think we actually ARE superheros but we almost never, ever, get it right. Father seems to have sufficient wisdom to protect us from ourselves and yet permit us enough damage to come home wiser for the journey.
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zeta-flux, it is my assertion that his weakness is very easily managed with the right techniques. The only reason he's been beaten in the comics is because it's written that way. In reality, that really is unbeatable. In a bit of trouble? Travel in time. Beat that.
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